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:- Nov 2026  Dec 2026  Jan 2027  Feb 2027  Mar 2027  Apr 2027

April 2027

5 Years (2022)
Apr 03: 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine: As Russia's forces retreat from areas near Kyiv, it is accused by Ukraine of war crimes.
Apr 08: Global food prices increase to their highest level since the UN's Food Price Index began in 1990, with some commodities rising by nearly 20% as a result of the Ukraine crisis.
Apr 13: COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases exceeds 500 million worldwide.
Apr 19: Deaths - Kane Tanaka (1903) was 119 years and 107 days, making her the oldest verified Japanese person and the second-oldest verified person ever.
Apr 25: Elon Musk, the world's richest man, acquires social media website Twitter for $44 billion.
Apr 27: The Central African Republic adopts bitcoin as legal tender, becoming the second country in the world to adopt the cryptocurrency.

10 Years (2017)
Apr 03: 14 killed and 45 injured in bomb explosion on underground train in St Petersburg.
Apr 04: Chemical air attack in north-west Syria kills over 80 & injures many others.
Apr 04: UK: Labour Party suspends Ken Livingstone from holding office for another year.
Apr 06: UK: Jon Platt loses legal challenge over taking daughter out of school in term time.
Apr 07: 4 killed by lorry crash terrorist attack in centre of Stockholm.
Apr 07: Death of British actor Tim Pigott-Smith, 70 (TV series The Jewel in the Crown).
Apr 07: US missile attack from warships at Syrian airfield in response to chemical attack.
Apr 08: Basque Separatist Group ETA gives in weapons: militant campaign is over.
Apr 09: Controversy for United Airlines after passenger dragged off overbooked flight.
Apr 09: Palm Sunday bombings at 2 Coptic Christian churches in Egypt kill at least 45 .
Apr 10: Fashion chain Jaeger goes into administration, putting 700 UK jobs at risk.
Apr 10: Funeral of PC Keith Palmer, killed in Westminster attack on March 22.
Apr 11: 3 explosions hit bus with Borussia Dortmund football team, injuring one player.
Apr 13: US strike in Afghanistan with "mother of all bombs" (MOAB) 70 IS militants killed.
Apr 14: Sun's Kelvin MacKenzie suspended over column re Everton footballer Ross Barclay.
Apr 15: Growing military tension continues between North Korea & United States.
Apr 15: World's oldest person, Emma Morano, dies in Italy aged 117 ( b 29.11.1899).
Apr 17: Over 1,000 Palestinians in Israeli jails begin mass hunger strike against conditions.
Apr 17: Prince Harry admits to counselling 20 years after death of mother, Princess Diana.
Apr 17: Turkish President Recep Erdogan wins extra powers in 'Yes' vote referendum.
Apr 18: UK Prime Minister Theresa May announces snap election for June 08, 2017.
Apr 20: Fox News drops presenter Bill O'Reilly over sexual harassment claims.
Apr 23: Death US actress Erin Moran, aged 56 ('Joanie' in 1970s sitcom 'Happy Days')
Apr 26: Death US film director Jonathan Demme, 73 ('Silence of the Lambs', 'Philadelphia').
Apr 28: Royal Marine Sgt Alexander Blackman freed (shot dead wounded Taliban fighter).

15 Years (2012)
Apr 03: James Murdoch resigns chair BSKYB after newspaper phone hacking scandal.
Apr 10: BBC Breakfast now broadcast from Salford Quays new media centre.
Apr 14: Grand National broadcast live on BBC TV for final time (after 52 years).
Apr 21: Death of Charles Colson, 80 (special counsel to US President Richard Nixon).
Apr 26: Ex Liberian President Charles Taylor found guilty of aiding war crimes.

20 Years (2007)
Apr 02: UK: Smoking banned in all enclosed workplaces in Wales.
Apr 03: Death of US actor Gordon Scott, 80 ('Tarzan').
Apr 03: French High Speed Train (TGV) reaches a record speed of 574mph.
Apr 16: US: Virginia Tech shooting by South Korean student. 32 shot & killed.
Apr 23: Death of 1st President of Russia Boris Yeltsin aged 76.
Apr 23: UK: BBC 'Panorama' exposes 'phone-in' scandal of TV phone competitions.
Apr 23: UK: BBC 'Panorama' programme exposes 'phone-in' scandal of TV phone competitions.
Apr 25: Death of England footballer & manager Alan Ball, 61 (World Cup winner 1966).

25 Years (2002)
Apr 04: End of Angolan Civil War (over 25 years). Estimated 500,000 killed.
Apr 04: Israeli forces begin 38 day siege of Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem
Apr 09: UK Funeral of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, Westminster Abbey.
Apr 18: Death Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl, 87 ('Kon-Tiki' expedition 1947).
Apr 22: Death of US pornography actress Linda Lovelace, 53 ('Deep Throat').
Apr 27: Death of US businesswoman Ruth Handler aged 85. Creator of 'Barbie' doll.

30 Years (1997)
Apr 05: Death of US poet Allan Ginsberg, 70 (leading figure in Beat Generation).
Apr 11: Major fire damages Turin Cathedral, Italy (home to Shroud of Turin).
Apr 13: Eldrick 'Tiger' Woods, 21, becomes youngest-ever golfer to win US Masters.
Apr 14: Grand National delayed by suspected IRA bomb, Aintree. Race run 2 days later.
Apr 22: Troops storm Japanese Embassy in Peru: free 72 hostages held for 4 months.

35 Years (1992)
Apr 05: Bosnia & Herzegovina proclaims independence from Republic of Yugoslavia.
Apr 05: Bosnian War: Serb troops begin siege of Sarajevo.
Apr 05: Death of US singer & siongwriter Kurt Cobain, 27 ('Nirvana').
Apr 07: European Community & USA recognise Bosnia & Herzegovina independence.
Apr 09: Conservative PM John Major wins General Election to remain in power.
Apr 10: IRA bombing of Baltic Exchange, City of London. 3 killed.
Apr 10: UK ITV broadcasts 1st episode of period police drama 'Heartbeat'.
Apr 12: Opening of Euro Disneyland in France. Later renamed Disneyland Paris.
Apr 13: UK: Labour leader Neil Kinnock resigns 4 days after losing General Election.
Apr 15: Death of UK Olympic & World Champion ice skater John Curry, 44.
Apr 20: Death British comedian Benny Hill, 68 ('The Benny Hill Show').
Apr 20: Death British comedian Frankie Howerd, 75 ('Up Pompeii', 'Carry On' films).
Apr 20: UK: Freddie Mercury ('Queen') Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness, Wembley.
Apr 22: Death of 37th US President Richard Milhous Nixon, 81.
Apr 27: Death English film actress Lynne Frederick, 39 (ex wife Peter Sellers & David Frost).
Apr 27: UK: Labour MP Betty Boothroyd 1st woman elected Speaker of House of Commons.
Apr 27: UK: Labour MP Betty Boothroyd elected 1st woman Speaker of House of Commons.
Apr 28: Serbia & Montenegrto form new state: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Apr 29: Rioting in Los Angeles after 4 white police officers cleared of beating Rodney King.

40 Years (1987)
Apr 03: Jewellery belonging to Duchess of Windsor Wallis Simpson sells for £31m at auction.
Apr 03: Jewellery belonging to Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson, sells for £31m at auction.
Apr 03: Jewellery of Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson, sells for £31m at auction.
Apr 16: UK: Conservative MP Harvey Proctor goes on trial on charges of gross indecency.
Apr 19: US TV: 1st appearance 'The Simpsons' cartoon characters in 'Tracey Ullman Show'.
Apr 21: Over 100 killed in garage bomb in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

45 Years (1982)
Apr 02: Argentinian troops occupy British territory on Falkland Islands in South Atlantic.
Apr 15: Death of British actor Arthur Lowe aged 66 ('Coronation Street', 'Dad's Army').
Apr 24: British marines land and re-take South Georgia, Falklands.

50 Years (1977)
Apr 02: 'Red Rum' wins UK horse-racing's Grand National for 3rd time, Aintree.
Apr 02: UK: 'Red Rum' wins UK horse-racing's Grand National for 3rd time, Aintree.
Apr 03: UK: ITV broadcasts 1st episode of drama mini-series 'Jesus of Nazareth' (Robert Powell).
Apr 03: UK: ITV broadcasts 1st episode of mini-series 'Jesus of Nazareth' (Robert Powell).

55 Years (1972)
Apr 19: Lord Widgery Report into 'Bloody Sunday' shootings by troops in Londonderry.
Apr 19: Lord Widgery Report into 'Bloody Sunday' shootings by British troops in Londonderry.
Apr 25: Polaroid lanches world's 1st consumer-friendly instant camera,

60 Years (1967)
Apr 04: Death of US songwriter Al Lewis, 65 ('Blueberry Hill').
Apr 08: UK singer Sandie Shaw wins 12th Eurovision Song Contest ('Puppet On A String').
Apr 10: 'A Man for All Seasons' wins Academy Award for Best Picture.
Apr 21: Military dictatorship led by George Papadopoulosa takes over in Greece.
Apr 24: Russian cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov killed in 'Soyuz 1' spacecraft on re-entry.
Apr 28: World heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali refuses military service.
Apr 28: World heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali refuses US military service.

65 Years (1962)
Apr 26: Ranger IV is 1st US rocket to land on the Moon (but unable to send pictures).

70 Years (1957)
Apr 09: Egypt re-opens Suez Canal to all shipping following 1956 Suez Crisis.
Apr 24: BBC broadcasts 1st edition of 'The Sky At Night' with presenter Patrick Moore.

75 Years (1952)
Apr 17: Birth US impressionist Joe Alaskey (voice of 'Bugs Bunny', 'Daffy Duck' & 'Elmer Fudd').
Apr 30: Publication in English of 'The Diary of Anne Frank', a 14 yr old Jewish girl killed in Holocaust.
Apr 30: English publication 'The Diary of Anne Frank' by 14 yr old Jewish girl in WW2.
Apr 30: Publication in English 'The Diary of Anne Frank': a 14 yr old Jewish girl killed in Holocaust.

80 Years (1947)
Apr 07: Death of US industrialist Henry Ford (Ford Motor Co) aged 83.
Apr 16: Execution of Rudolf Hoss, SS Commandant of Auschwitz Camp during WW2.
Apr 25: Birth Dutch international footballer Johan Cruff.

85 Years (1942)
Apr 15: WW2: Malta awarded George Cross; overcoming 6 months' daily German bombing.
Apr 15: WW2: Malta awarded the George Cross; overcoming 6 months' daily German bombing.
Apr 24: Birth of US singer & actress Barbra Streisand.

90 Years (1937)
Apr 01: Aden becomes a British Crown Colony.
Apr 12: English engineer & inventor Frank Whittle ground tests world's 1st jet engine.
Apr 26: Spanish Civil War: Guernica bombed by Condor Legion of Nazi Germany.
Apr 28: Birth Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

95 Years (1932)
Apr 01: Birth of US Hollywood film actress Debbie Reynolds ('Singin' In The Rain').
Apr 10: Birth of Egyptian-born film actor Omar Sharif ('Lawrence of Arabia', 'Dr Zhivago').
Apr 25: Birth of British actor William Roache ('Ken Barlow' in 'Coronation Street')

100 Years (1927)
Apr 14: Production of 1st Volvo car begins in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Apr 15: Death French journalist & writer Gaston Lerouz, 58 ('The Phantom of the Opera').

105 Years (1922)
Apr 03: Birth of US film actress & singer Doris Day ('Calamity Jane').

110 Years (1917)
Apr 01: Death US composer & pianist Scott Joplin, 49 ('Maple Leaf Rag', 'The Entertainer').
Apr 06: WW1: United States of America declares war on Germany.
Apr 25: Birth of American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald.

115 Years (1912)
Apr 15: 'RMS Titanic' sunk by iceberg on maiden voyage in N.Atlantic. Over 1,500 killed.
Apr 15: RMS Titanic sunk by iceberg on maiden voyage in North Atlantic. Over 1,500 killed.
Apr 15: 'RMS Titanic' sunk by iceberg on maiden voyage in North Atlantic. Over 1,500 killed.

135 Years (1892)
Apr 08: Birth of Canadian-born film actress Mary Pickford (co founder United Artists).

170 Years (1857)
Apr 18: Birth US defence lawyer Clarence Darrow (evolution trial defencel: 'monkey trial').

180 Years (1847)
Apr 10: Birth Hungarian-born press baron Joseph Pulitzer (Pulitzer journalism award).

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