- Tsunami devastates South-East Asia
- Abuse of Iraqi prisoners by us military at the Abu Ghraib prison are made public
- Yasser Arafat, President of the Palestinian Authority, dies in Paris
- Bomb attacks in Madrid
- The Civil Partnerships Act becomes law allowing for ‘gay marriage’ in UK
- Government introduces top-up fees in British universities
- Armed robbers steal Edvard Munch’s The Scream in Norway
- Renovated Camden Arts Centre re-opens
- Fire at Momart warehouse destroys major British artworks
- Zoo Art Fair is launched in London to coincide with Frieze Art Fair