Year in Review: The biggest news stories of 2015

A lot can happen in 12 months - so here's a reminder of the biggest news stories of 2015.

• Terror attacks around the world

Hundreds of people have been killed and many more injured in a string of terror-related suicide bombings, explosions and gun attacks around the world during 2015.

Here are just some:

The year began on a sombre note, with three days of bloodshed on the streets of Paris in January which left 17 people dead - including police officers and staff at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Gunmen attacked the Bardo National Museum in Tunisia's capital city Tunis in March, killing 23 people - including 20 foreign tourists.

Tunisia again suffered an attack in June, when total of 38 people - 30 of whom were British - were killed by an Islamist gunman who rampaged through a beach resort in Sousse, leaving dozens more injured and effectively destroying the country's tourist economy.

In October, 102 people were killed and hundreds more injured when two bombs exploded in Turkey's capital city Ankara, apparently targeting a peace rally being held nearby.

The month ended with the downing of a Russian passenger jet over the Sinai peninsula of Egypt, killing all 224 people on board. Investigators in Egypt have since said they are "90 per cent sure" a bomb was the cause.

At least 43 people were killed in November in two suicide bombings in Beirut, according to officials in Lebanon, with another 240 injured in the blasts.

Later that month, one of the worst terror attacks in Europe took place on the streets of Paris, when coordinated attacks were staged at cafés, restaurants, the Stade de France and the Bataclan concert hall. A total of 130 people were killed.

Nineteen people were killed and a further seven injured after militants seized 170 hostages at the Radisson Blu in Bamako, Mali, just days later. The two Islamist militants were also killed in a gunfight with security forces.

• Refugee crisis

Despite months of headlines on the number of people dying as they tried to cross the Mediterranean Sea, nothing brought this to the attention of people more than the image of Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi washed up on a Bodrum beach in Turkey.

Most national newspapers lead on the shocking images of three-year-old Aylan, who drowned along with his brother and mother as the family made the treacherous crossing.

His death prompted outrage around the world, and leaders quickly began to revise their response to the crisis.

More than 800,000 people have arrived in Europe from the Middle East and Africa so far this year, many of them making the hazardous journey across the Mediterannean Sea in flimsy dinghies.

Countries such as Germany initially welcomed those fleeing war and poverty, but many of the Balkan states have started building razor-wire fences and deploying armed forces to police their borders, while others - such as Macedonia - have imposed screening based on nationality.

• Germanwings plane crash

All 150 people on board a Germanwings plane flying from Spain to Dusseldorf were killed when it crashed into a mountain in the French Alps.

It later emerged that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz had deliberately flown Flight 4U 9525 into the side of a mountain, with reports of a history of severe depression and fears he was losing his eyesight.

• General election

The 2015 General Election was expected to be a close call between the Conservatives and Labour, with pre-ballot polls putting the parties neck and neck.

So when the Tories stormed ahead in the exit polls - and the results exceeded them to claim a majority - it took many experts somewhat by surprise.

It also sparked a leadership contest for Labour, as previous lead Ed Miliband stepped down.

At first considered to be the outside horse in the race, Jeremy Corbyn's popularity rocketed among grassroots members and he was voted in in September.

His appointment prompted a wave of resignations from the previous shadow cabinet, and he came under fire for his choices in replacing them.

However, Labour's membership soared by thousands in the days after his election.

• Birth of Princess Charlotte

In May, we saw the latest addition to the Royal family - the Queen's fifth great-grandchild, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.

Bookies had to pay out an estimated £1 million following the announcement of the newborn's name, while businesses reported a huge boom in sales ranging from commemorative items to people desperate to get hold of the tiny Princess's shawl.

New photos, taken by the Duchess of Cambridge, have now been released showing Princess Charlotte playing at home.

• FIFA corruption allegations

Claims of widespread corruption within football's governing body have plagued FIFA since the summer, when the US Department of Justice indicted a number of top executives.

Authorities, instructed by the US, raided a luxury hotel in Switzerland in May to make seven arrests, with a total of 14 current and former officials indicted on charges of "rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted" after an investigation by the FBI.

President Sepp Blatter denied any wrongdoing, but he was made the official subject of a Swiss criminal investigation in September. Formal proceedings began against he and UEFA president Michael Platini in November. Both remain suspended.

• Rugby World Cup

More than four billion people around the world tuned in to watch the Rugby World Cup in England on TV, while more than 2.4 million bought tickets to at least one of the 48 matches - making it the biggest audience in the tournament's history.

Despite a disappointing result for the Home Nations, it did not deter fans with thousands turning out to mark New Zealand's historic second consecutive win.

• Climate change summit

The largest-ever gathering of world leaders at a summit to deal with climate change was held in November.

The United Nations talks, seen by many as the moment the world decided to save our planet, included an address by Prince Charles - where he urged world leaders to "think of your grandchildren, as I think of mine" as he demanded greater action to tackle global warming.

• Syria vote

A controversial plan for Britian to extend its military campaign against so-called Islamic State militants into Syria went before MPs in December.

MPs supported the motion backing airstrikes by 397 votes to 223 - a majority of 174 - following a 10-hour debate.

Prime Minister David Cameron repeatedly refused to apologise for reportedly calling anyone who voted against the strikes "terrorist sympathisers", while a number of MPs reported being subjected to abuse online over their vote.