Major Events
- Feb 16 Kyoto Protocol comes into force following its ratification by Russia, committing industrialized nations to limit and reduce greenhouse gases
- Feb 26 President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak orders the constitution changed to allow multi-candidate presidential elections, asking the Egyptian parliament to amend Article 76
- Apr 26 Under international pressure, Syria withdraws the last of its 14,000 troop military garrison in Lebanon, ending its 29-year military domination of that country.
- Apr 27 The superjumbo jet aircraft Airbus A380 makes its first flight from Toulouse, France
- Jul 7 Coordinated terrorist bomb blasts strike London's public transport system during the morning rush hour killing 52 and injuring 700
- Jul 7 Influenced by global Live 8 concerts, G8 leaders pledge to double 2004 levels of aid to Africa from US$25 to US$50 billion by the year 2010
- Jul 28 The Provisional Irish Republican Army call an end to their thirty year long armed campaign in Northern Ireland
- Aug 29 Hurricane Katrina makes 2nd and 3rd landfall as a category 3 hurricane, devastating much of the U.S. Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida Panhandle. Kills more than 1,836, causes over $115 billion in damage.
- Nov 8 Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is elected president of Liberia, the first woman to lead an African country
- Nov 22 Angela Merkel becomes the first female Chancellor of Germany
- More 2005 Events
2005 in Film & TV
- Feb 14 Online video sharing site YouTube is launched in the United States by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim; headquarteredin San Bruno, California
2005 in Music
- Jul 2 10 Live 8 concerts held around the world organised by Bob Geldof to raise awareness of poverty
- Sep 15 "Be Without You" single released by Mary J. Blige (Billboard Song of the Year 2006, Grammy Award Best R&B Song, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 2005)
2005 in Sport
- Feb 7 Britain's Ellen MacArthur becomes the then fastest person to sail solo around the world, taking 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds
- Jul 24 92nd Tour de France: no winner; Lance Armstrong retires after winning a record seventh consecutive victory but disqualified in 2012 for doping
Did You Know?
President El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba of Gabon, in power since 1967 and the longest-serving head of state in the world, is re-elected to his third consecutive seven-year term
Lewis KoumasMore People Born in 2005
Arthur Miller
Hunter S. Thompson
John Paul II
Rainier III
Edward Heath
Rosa Parks
Johnny Carson
Eddie Albert
Anne Bancroft
Peter Jennings
Bob Denver
Richard Pryor
Max Schmeling
Fazal Mahmood
George Mikan
Al LópezMore 2005 Deaths
Famous Weddings in 2005
- Jan 8 American rapper and actor Nas (32) weds R&B singer Kelis (25) at Morningside Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia; divorce in 2010
- Jan 9 "Motley Crue" lead singer Vince Neil (43) weds Lia Gerardini at the Four Seasons hotel in Las Vegas
- Jan 22 Businessman and "The Apprentice" host Donald Trump (58) weds former model Melania Knauss (34) at the Bethesda by the Sea Episcopal Church in Palm Beach, Florida
Famous Divorces in 2005
- Mar 1 Former Full House actor John Stamos (41) divorces X-Men actress Rebecca Romijn-Stamos (31) after 5 years of marriage
- Mar 25 American actress Jennifer Aniston (36) files for divorce from actor and film producer Brad Pitt (41) due to irreconcilable differences after 4 and a half years of marriage
- Apr 8 Prince Joachim of Denmark (35) divorces Countess of Frederiksborg Alexandra (40) after 9 years of marriage
More 2005 Weddings
Bill Gates
Bono
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Ray Charles
Reese Witherspoon
Roger Federer
Tom Brady
George W. Bush
Hu Jintao
Manmohan Singh
Tony Blair
Vladimir Putin