diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index edb4fc8046e8..9e8efc1a703e 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ Python News
 What's New in Python 2.3 alpha 1?
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-*XXX Release date: DD-MMM-2002 XXX*
+*Release date: 31-Dec-2002*
 
 Type/class unification and new-style classes
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