What Happened in 2005 — Events, Births & Deaths

The dwarf planet Eris is discovered by Palomar Observatory-based astronomers, later motivating the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to define the term planet for the first time.

Edgar Ray Killen is indicted for the 1964 murders of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner during the American Civil Rights Movement.

A train collision in Graniteville, South Carolina, United States, releases about 60 tons of chlorine gas.

The nuclear sub USS San Francisco collides at full speed with an undersea mountain south of Guam. One man is killed, but the sub surfaces and is repaired.

Mahmoud Abbas wins the election to succeed Yasser Arafat as President of the Palestinian National Authority, replacing interim president Rawhi Fattouh.

The Sudan People's Liberation Movement and the Government of Sudan sign the Comprehensive Peace Agreement to end the Second Sudanese Civil War.

Deep Impact launches from Cape Canaveral on a Delta II rocket.

ESA's SMART-1 lunar orbiter discovers elements such as calcium, aluminum, silicon, iron, and other surface elements on the Moon.

The Airbus A380, the world's largest commercial jet, is unveiled at a ceremony in Toulouse, France

In Belmopan, Belize, the unrest over the government's new taxes erupts into riots.

A stampede at the Mandhradevi temple in Maharashtra, India kills at least 258.

The first direct commercial flights from mainland China (from Guangzhou) to Taiwan since 1949 arrived in Taipei. Shortly afterwards, a China Airlines flight lands in Beijing.

King Gyanendra of Nepal carries out a coup d'état to capture the democracy, becoming Chairman of the Councils of ministers.

The Government of Canada introduces the Civil Marriage Act. This legislation would become law on July 20, 2005, legalizing same-sex marriage.

One hundred five people are killed when Kam Air Flight 904 crashes in the Pamir Mountains in Afghanistan.

In Beirut, 23 people, including former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, are killed when the equivalent of around 1,000 kg of TNT is detonated while Hariri's motorcade drives through the city.

Seven people are killed and 151 wounded in a series of bombings by suspected al-Qaeda-linked militants that hit Makati, Davao City, and General Santos, all in the Philippines.

YouTube is launched by a group of college students, eventually becoming the largest video sharing website in the world and a main source for viral videos.

The Kyoto Protocol comes into force, following its ratification by Russia.

The National Hockey League cancels the entire 2004–05 regular season and playoffs.

Spain becomes the first country to vote in a referendum on ratification of the proposed Constitution of the European Union, passing it by a substantial margin, but on a low turnout.

The 6.4 Mw Zarand earthquake shakes the Kerman province of Iran with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe), leaving 612 people dead and 1,411 injured.

In Roper v. Simmons, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that the execution of juveniles found guilty of any crime is unconstitutional.

James Roszko murders four Royal Canadian Mounted Police constables during a drug bust at his property in Rochfort Bridge, Alberta, then commits suicide. This is the deadliest peace-time incident for the RCMP since 1885 and the North-West Rebellion.

Steve Fossett becomes the first person to fly an airplane non-stop around the world solo without refueling.

Margaret Wilson is elected as Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, beginning a period lasting until August 23, 2006, where all the highest political offices (including Elizabeth II as Head of State), were occupied by women, making New Zealand the first country for this to occur.

Israel officially hands over Jericho to Palestinian control.

Around 200,000 to 300,000 Taiwanese demonstrate in Taipei in opposition to the Anti-Secession Law of China.

An earthquake shakes northern Sumatra with a magnitude of 8.6 and killing over 1000 people.

The dwarf planet Makemake is discovered by a team led by astronomer Michael E. Brown at the Palomar Observatory.

Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani becomes Iraqi president; Shiite Arab Ibrahim al-Jaafari is named premier the next day.

First release of Git distributed version control system.

A solar eclipse occurs, visible over areas of the Pacific Ocean and Latin American countries such as Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Venezuela.

The Oregon Supreme Court nullifies marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples a year earlier by Multnomah County.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is elected to the papacy and becomes Pope Benedict XVI.

Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi apologizes for Japan's war record.

The first YouTube video, titled "Me at the zoo", is published by co-founder Jawed Karim.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is inaugurated as the 265th Pope of the Catholic Church taking the name Pope Benedict XVI.

The final piece of the Obelisk of Axum is returned to Ethiopia after being stolen by the invading Italian army in 1937.

A seven-car commuter train derails and crashes into an apartment building near Amagasaki Station in Japan, killing 107, including the driver.

Bulgaria and Romania sign the Treaty of Accession 2005 to join the European Union.

Cedar Revolution: 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 (Syrian occupation of Lebanon).

Airbus A380 aircraft has its maiden test flight.

A hand grenade thrown by Vladimir Arutyunian lands about 20 m from U.S. President George W. Bush while he is giving a speech to a crowd in Tbilisi, Georgia, but it malfunctions and does not detonate.

Andijan uprising, Uzbekistan: Troops open fire on crowds of protestors after a prison break; at least 187 people were killed according to official estimates.

Kuwait permits women's suffrage in a 35–23 National Assembly vote.

A second photo from the Hubble Space Telescope confirms that Pluto has two additional moons, Nix and Hydra.

The tallest roller coaster in the world, Kingda Ka opens at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey.

France rejects the Constitution of the European Union in a national referendum.

Vanity Fair reveals that Mark Felt was "Deep Throat".

The Civic Forum of the Romanians of Covasna, Harghita and Mureș is founded.

The jury acquits pop singer Michael Jackson of all charges for allegedly sexually abusing a child in 2003.

Following a series of Michelin tire failures during the United States Grand Prix weekend at Indianapolis, and without an agreement being reached, 14 cars from seven teams in Michelin tires withdraw after completing the formation lap, leaving only six cars from three teams on Bridgestone tires to race.

Edgar Ray Killen, who had previously been unsuccessfully tried for the murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Mickey Schwerner, is convicted of manslaughter 41 years afterwards (the case had been reopened in 2004).

American social news and discussion site Reddit is founded in Medford, Massachusetts by Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian.

The Live 8 benefit concerts takes place in the G8 states and in South Africa. More than 1,000 musicians perform and are broadcast on 182 television networks and 2,000 radio networks.

The Deep Impact collider hits the comet Tempel 1.

A series of four explosions occurs on London's transport system, killing 56 people, including four suicide bombers, and injuring over 700 others.

An Antonov An-24 crashes near Baney in Bioko Norte, Equatorial Guinea, killing 60 people.

The Civil Marriage Act legalizes same-sex marriage in Canada.

Four attempted bomb attacks by Islamist extremists disrupt part of London's public transport system.

Jean Charles de Menezes is killed by police as the hunt begins for the London Bombers responsible for the 7 July 2005 London bombings and the 21 July 2005 London bombings.

Three bombs explode in the Naama Bay area of Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, killing 88 people.

Space Shuttle program: STS-114 Mission: Launch of Discovery, NASA's first scheduled flight mission after the Columbia Disaster in 2003.

Mumbai, India receives 99.5cm of rain (39.17 inches) within 24 hours, resulting in floods killing over 5,000 people.

The Provisional Irish Republican Army calls an end to its thirty-year-long armed campaign against British rule in Northern Ireland.

Astronomers announce their discovery of the dwarf planet Eris.

Air France Flight 358 lands at Toronto Pearson International Airport and runs off the runway, causing the plane to burst into flames, leaving 12 injuries and no fatalities.

President of Mauritania Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya is overthrown in a military coup while attending the funeral of King Fahd in Saudi Arabia.

Helios Airways Flight 522, en route from Larnaca, Cyprus to Prague, Czech Republic via Athens, crashes in the hills near Grammatiko, Greece, killing 121 passengers and crew.

Israel's unilateral disengagement plan to evict all Israelis from the Gaza Strip and from four settlements in the northern West Bank begins.

The Helsinki Agreement between the Free Aceh Movement and the Government of Indonesia is signed, ending almost three decades of fighting.

West Caribbean Airways Flight 708, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, crashes in Machiques, Venezuela, killing all 160 people on board.

The first forced evacuation of settlers, as part of Israeli disengagement from Gaza, starts.

Over 500 bombs are set off by terrorists at 300 locations in 63 out of the 64 districts of Bangladesh.

A massive power blackout hits the Indonesian island of Java; affecting almost 100 million people, it is one of the largest and most widespread power outages in history.

The first-ever joint military exercise between Russia and China, called Peace Mission 2005 begins.

Hurricane Katrina makes landfall in Florida.

Hurricane Katrina devastates much of the U.S. Gulf Coast from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, killing up to 1,392 people and causing $125 billion in damage.

The 2005 Al-Aaimmah bridge stampede in Baghdad kills 953 people.

Mandala Airlines Flight 091 crashes after takeoff from Polonia International Airport in Medan, Indonesia, killing 149.

Egypt holds its first-ever multi-party presidential election.

Two Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft from EMERCOM land at a disaster aid staging area at Little Rock Air Force Base; the first time Russia has flown such a mission to North America.

Israeli–Palestinian conflict: the Israeli disengagement from Gaza is completed, leaving some 2,530 homes demolished.

The Camorra organized crime boss Paolo Di Lauro is arrested in Naples, Italy.

Hurricane Rita makes landfall in the United States, devastating portions of southwestern Louisiana and extreme southeastern Texas.

John Roberts is confirmed as Chief Justice of the United States.

Controversial drawings of Muhammad are printed in a Danish newspaper.

The 7.6 Mw Kashmir earthquake leaves 86,000–87,351 people dead, 69,000–75,266 injured, and 2.8 million homeless.

The second Chinese human spaceflight, Shenzhou 6, is launched, carrying two cosmonauts in orbit for five days.

Saddam Hussein goes on trial in Baghdad for crimes against humanity.

Hurricane Wilma becomes the most intense Atlantic hurricane on record with a minimum pressure of 882 mb.

The general conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) passes the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

Tropical Storm Alpha forms in the Atlantic Basin, making the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season the most active Atlantic hurricane season until surpassed by the 2020 season.

Bellview Airlines Flight 210 crashes in Nigeria, killing all 117 people on board.

Hurricane Wilma makes landfall in Florida, resulting in 35 direct and 26 indirect fatalities and causing $20.6B USD in damage.

Bombings in Delhi, India kill 67 and injure over 200 people.

The rebuilt Dresden Frauenkirche (destroyed in the firebombing of Dresden during World War II) is reconsecrated after a thirteen-year rebuilding project.

The Venus Express mission of the European Space Agency is launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Suicide bombers attack three hotels in Amman, Jordan, killing at least 60 people.

Following a 31-year wait, Australia defeats Uruguay in a penalty shootout to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is elected president of Liberia and becomes the first woman to lead an African country.

John Sentamu becomes the first black archbishop in the Church of England with his enthronement as the 97th Archbishop of York.

As a result of the merger of the Perm Oblast and the Komi-Permyak Autonomous Okrug, a new subject of the Russian Federation, the Perm Krai, was created.

XCOR Aerospace makes the first crewed rocket aircraft delivery of U.S. Mail in Kern County, California.

Tens of thousands of people in Hong Kong protest for democracy and call on the government to allow universal and equal suffrage.

The Civil Partnership Act comes into effect in the United Kingdom, and the first civil partnership is registered there.

The 6.8 Mw Lake Tanganyika earthquake shakes the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo with a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme), killing six people.

An Iranian Air Force C-130 military transport aircraft crashes into a ten-floor apartment building in a residential area of Tehran, killing all 94 on board and 12 more on the ground.

Rigoberto Alpizar, a passenger on American Airlines Flight 924 who allegedly claimed to have a bomb, is shot and killed by a team of U.S. federal air marshals at Miami International Airport.

Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145 crashes at Port Harcourt International Airport in Nigeria, killing 108 people.

The Buncefield Oil Depot catches fire in Hemel Hempstead, England.

Cronulla riots: Thousands of White Australians demonstrate against ethnic violence resulting in a riot against anyone thought to be Lebanese in Cronulla, New South Wales; these are followed up by retaliatory ethnic attacks on Cronulla.

Introduction of the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor into USAF active service.

Anti-World Trade Organization protesters riot in Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicates the throne as King of Bhutan.

The Chadian Civil War begins when rebel groups, allegedly backed by neighbouring Sudan, launch an attack in Adré.

Chalk's Ocean Airways Flight 101 crashes into the Government Cut channel immediately after takeoff from Miami Seaplane Base, killing 20.

A passenger train from Sucha Beskidzka to Żywiec in Poland loses its brakes while on a steep downhill part of the route. It is stopped in a controlled collision in Świnna by a train travelling in opposite direction. 2 drivers and 6 passengers are injured.

An Antonov An-140, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 217 from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Aktau, Kazakhstan, heading across the Caspian Sea, crashes, killing 23 people.

Chad–Sudan relations: Chad declares a state of belligerence against Sudan following a December 18 attack on Adré, which left about 100 people dead.

Tropical Storm Zeta forms in the open Atlantic Ocean, tying the record for the latest tropical cyclone ever to form in the North Atlantic basin.

Rob Dillingham, American basketball player

Emil Højlund, Danish footballer

Oscar Højlund, Danish footballer

Dafne Keen, British-Spanish actress

Yuika, Japanese singer-songwriter

Iker Bravo, Spanish footballer

Peio Canales, Spanish footballer

IShowSpeed, American YouTuber and online streamer

Prince Hashem, second son of King Abdullah II of Jordan

Sergio Mestre, Spanish footballer

Noah Jupe, English actor

Vitor Roque, Brazilian footballer

Rodri Mendoza, Spanish footballer

Ella Anderson, American actress

Reed Baker-Whiting, American professional footballer

Adrián Liso, Spanish footballer

Lil Mabu, American rapper

Zaccharie Risacher, French basketball player

Jack Hinshelwood, English footballer

Danielle Marsh, South Korean-Australian singer

Antonio Nusa, Norwegian footballer

Tallyn Da Silva, Australian rugby league player

Alex Sarr, French basketball player

Mathys Tel, French footballer

Linda Fruhvirtová, Czech tennis player

Oliver Bearman, English racing driver

Zach Benson, Canadian ice hockey player

Romain Esse, English footballer

Alexandra Eala, Filipino tennis player

Désiré Doué, French footballer

Kane Parsons, American YouTuber and filmmaker

Kylie Cantrall, American actress, singer, songwriter, dancer, and social media personality

Princess Alexia of the Netherlands

Tom Bischof, German footballer

Pio Esposito, Italian footballer

Sombr, American singer and songwriter

Ron Holland, American basketball player

JuJu Watkins, American basketball player

Connor Bedard, Canadian ice hockey player

Bub Carrington, American basketball player

Alysa Liu, American figure skater

Victoria Jiménez Kasintseva, Andorran tennis player

Tidjane Salaün, French basketball player

Nikola Topić, Serbian basketball player

Stiliana Nikolova, Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast

Elzhana Taniyeva, Kazakh rhythmic gymnast

Annaliese Dragan, Romanian-American rhythmic gymnast

Sam Konstas, Australian cricketer

Christian, Crown Prince of Denmark

Ruby Rose Turner, American actress

Antonia Nocca, Italian singer-songwriter

Leonor, Princess of Asturias

Fina Strazza, American actress

Lara Raj, American singer

Ben Gannon-Doak, Scottish footballer

Anna Tanaka, Japanese singer and model

Learner Tien, American tennis player

Ni-Ki, Japanese singer

Ivan Demidov, Russian ice hockey player

Davide Bartesaghi, Italian footballer

Per Borten, Norwegian lawyer and politician, 18th Prime Minister of Norway (born 1913)

Jan Nowak-Jeziorański, Polish journalist and politician (born 1914)

Miriam Rothschild, English zoologist, entomologist, and author (born 1908)

Johnny Carson, American talk show host, television personality, and producer (born 1925)

Ephraim Kishon, Israeli author, screenwriter, and director (born 1924)

Atli Dam, Faroese engineer and politician, 5th Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands (born 1932)

Arthur Miller, American actor, playwright, and author (born 1915)

Pierre Bachelet, French singer-songwriter (born 1944)

Guillermo Cabrera Infante, Cuban author, screenwriter, and critic (born 1929)

Zdzisław Beksiński, Polish painter, photographer, and sculptor (born 1929)

Lee Eun-ju, South Korean actress and singer (born 1980)

Simone Simon, French actress (born 1910)

Peter Benenson, English lawyer, founded Amnesty International (born 1921)

Jef Raskin, American computer scientist, created Macintosh (born 1943)

Chris Curtis, English singer and drummer (born 1941)

David Sheppard, English cricketer and bishop (born 1929)

John Box, English production designer and art director (born 1920)

Debra Hill, American screenwriter and producer (born 1950)

César Lattes, Brazilian physicist and academic (born 1924)

Aslan Maskhadov, Chechen commander and politician, President of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (born 1951)

Dave Allen, Irish-English comedian, actor, and screenwriter (born 1936)

John DeLorean, American engineer and businessman, founded the DeLorean Motor Company (born 1925)

Paul Bomani, Tanzanian politician and diplomat, 1st Tanzanian Minister of Finance (b 1925)

Johnnie Johnson, American pianist and songwriter (born 1924)

Phillip Pavia, American painter and sculptor (born 1912)

Fumio Niwa, Japanese journalist and author (born 1904)

Zhang Chunqiao, Chinese writer and politician, member of the Gang of Four (born 1917)

Erika Fuchs, German translator (born 1906)

Philip Morrison, American physicist and academic (born 1915)

Eduardo Paolozzi, Scottish sculptor and artist (born 1924)

Ezer Weizman, Israeli general and politician, 7th President of Israel (born 1924)

Fei Xiaotong, Chinese sociologist and academic (born 1910)

Mason Adams, American actor (born 1919)

Elisabeth Domitien, Prime Minister of the Central African Republic (born 1925)

Maria Schell, Austrian-Swiss actress (born 1926)

Augusto Roa Bastos, Paraguayan journalist, author, and academic (born 1917)

Kenneth Clark, American psychologist and academic (born 1914)

Léo Cadieux, Canadian politician, 17th Canadian Minister of National Defence (born 1908)

Horton Davies, Welsh minister and historian (born 1916)

Ömer Kavur, Turkish director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1944)

Martin Lings, English author and scholar (born 1909)

Kai Setälä, Finnish physician and professor (born 1913)

Monica Zetterlund, Swedish actress (born 1937)

Charilaos Florakis, Greek politician (born 1914)

Thurl Ravenscroft, American voice actor and singer (born 1914)

Hilda Crosby Standish, American physician (born 1902)

George Mikan, American basketball player and coach (born 1924)

Lucien Cliche, Canadian lawyer and politician (born 1916)

Gunder Gundersen, Norwegian skier (born 1930)

Samir Kassir, Lebanese journalist and educator (born 1950)

Anne Bancroft, American film actress; winner of the 1963 Academy Award for Best Actress for The Miracle Worker (born 1931)

Suzanne Flon, French actress (born 1918)

Larry Collins, American journalist, historian, and author (born 1929)

Jack Kilby, American physicist and engineer, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1923)

Ed McBain, American author and screenwriter (born 1926)

Claude Simon, Malagasy-French novelist and critic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1913)

Cicely Saunders, English hospice founder (born 1918)

Mo Mowlam, English academic and politician, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (born 1949)

Brock Peters, American actor (born 1927)

Nipsey Russell, American comedian and actor (born 1918)

August Wilson, American author and playwright (born 1945)

Jason Collier, American basketball player (born 1977)

Matti Wuori, Finnish lawyer and politician (born 1945)

Lloyd Bochner, Canadian-American actor (born 1924)

Ion Irimescu, Romanian sculptor and illustrator (born 1903)

Al López, American baseball player and manager (born 1908)

Shamsher Singh Sheri, Indian politician (born 1942)

Vine Deloria, Jr., American historian, theologian, and author (born 1933)

Eddie Guerrero, American wrestler (born 1967)

Frederick Ashworth, American admiral (born 1912)

Herb Moford, American baseball player (born 1928)

Kikka Sirén, Finnish pop/schlager singer (born 1964)

Charly Gaul, Luxembourger cyclist (born 1932)

Devan Nair, Malaysian-Singaporean union leader and politician, 3rd President of Singapore (born 1923)

Danny Williams, South African singer (born 1942)

William P. Yarborough, American general (born 1912)

Alan Shields, American painter and ferryboat captain (born 1944)

Raoul Bott, Hungarian-American mathematician and academic (born 1923)