2015 In Review Fast Facts

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Updated 1641 GMT (0041 HKT) October 7, 2016

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<strong>January 1:</strong> New Year's fireworks explode over Big Ben in London.

Photos: 2015: The year in pictures

January 1: New Year's fireworks explode over Big Ben in London.

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<strong>January 4: </strong>Law enforcement officers stand outside <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/04/us/gallery/liu-funeral/index.html" target="_blank">the funeral of fallen New York police officer Wenjian Liu.</a> Some officers turned their backs while New York Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke on a monitor. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/22/politics/de-blasio-police-shooting/index.html" target="_blank">The mayor's critics</a> believed his comments after the death of Eric Garner contributed to an anti-police sentiment that led to the shootings of Liu and his partner, Rafael Ramos.

Photos: 2015: The year in pictures

January 4: Law enforcement officers stand outside the funeral of fallen New York police officer Wenjian Liu. Some officers turned their backs while New York Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke on a monitor. The mayor's critics believed his comments after the death of Eric Garner contributed to an anti-police sentiment that led to the shootings of Liu and his partner, Rafael Ramos.

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<strong>January 6:</strong> NASA releases a stunning new image of the so-called <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/06/tech/nasa-pillars-creation/index.html" target="_blank">Pillars of Creation,</a> one of the space agency's most iconic discoveries. The giant columns of cold gas, in a small region of the Eagle Nebula, were popularized by a similar image taken by the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/19/photos/cnnphotos-hubble-space-telescope-25th-anniversary/" target="_blank">Hubble Space Telescope</a> in 1995. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/10/tech/gallery/wonders-of-the-universe/index.html" target="_blank">See other wonders of the universe</a>

Photos: 2015: The year in pictures

January 6: NASA releases a stunning new image of the so-called Pillars of Creation, one of the space agency's most iconic discoveries. The giant columns of cold gas, in a small region of the Eagle Nebula, were popularized by a similar image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in 1995. See other wonders of the universe

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<strong>January 7:</strong> A masked gunman runs toward a victim during <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/07/world/gallery/paris-charlie-hebdo-shooting/index.html" target="_blank">a terrorist attack at the Paris office of Charlie Hebdo,</a> a French satirical magazine. From January 7 to January 9, a total of <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/10/world/france-paris-who-were-terror-victims/" target="_blank">17 people were killed</a> in attacks on Charlie Hebdo, a kosher grocery store, and the Paris suburb of Montrouge. Three suspects were killed by police in separate standoffs. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Photos: 2015: The year in pictures

January 7: A masked gunman runs toward a victim during a terrorist attack at the Paris office of Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical magazine. From January 7 to January 9, a total of 17 people were killed in attacks on Charlie Hebdo, a kosher grocery store, and the Paris suburb of Montrouge. Three suspects were killed by police in separate standoffs. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility for the attacks.

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<strong>January 8:</strong> U.S. President Barack Obama reaches out to shake hands with someone after he had just spoken in Phoenix about the housing market and the economy.

Photos: 2015: The year in pictures

January 8: U.S. President Barack Obama reaches out to shake hands with someone after he had just spoken in Phoenix about the housing market and the economy.

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