Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift.

Historical Events in 2005

Events 1 - 200 of 304

The Late Late Show

Jan 3 Scottish comic Craig Ferguson becomes the host of "The Late Late Show" on CBS; hosts the program through 2014

  • Jan 4 Adam Gilchrist of Australia becomes the most prolific century scoring wicket keeper in cricket history when he smashes 113 from just 120 balls in the 3rd Test against Pakistan in Sydney
  • Jan 5 Eris, the largest known dwarf planet in the solar system, is discovered by the team of Michael E. Brown, Chad Trujillo, and David L. Rabinowitz using images originally taken on October 21, 2003, at the Palomar Observatory.
  • Jan 6 Mississippi Civil Rights Workers Murders: Edgar Ray Killen is arrested as a suspect for the 1964 murders of three Civil Rights workers.

Fattouch Succeeds Arafat

Jan 9 Elections are held to replace Yasser Arafat as head of the Palestine Liberation Organization. He is succeeded by Rawhi Fattouh.

  • Jan 9 The signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, commonly known as the Naivasha Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement rebel group in Naivasha, Kenya.
  • Jan 10 A mudslide occurs in La Conchita, California, killing 10 people, injuring many more and closing the Highway 101, the main coastal corridor between San Francisco and Los Angeles, for 10 days.
  • Jan 12 Deep Impact (space mission) launches from Cape Canaveral on a Delta 2 rocket.
  • Jan 14 Landing of the Huygens probe on Saturn's moon Titan
  • Jan 15 An intense solar flare blasts X-rays across the solar system
  • Jan 15 ESA's SMART-1 lunar orbiter discovers elements such as calcium, aluminum, silicon, iron, and other surface elements on the moon.
  • Jan 16 At 66 years old, Romanian university lecturer Adriana Illiescu becomes the oldest birth mother in the world
  • Jan 18 The world's largest commercial jet, the Airbus A380, is unveiled in France
  • Jan 20 Philip Glass' Symphony No. 7 (Toltec) premieres with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leonard Slatkin, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
  • Jan 21 In Belmopan, Belize, the unrest over the government's new taxes erupts into riots

Numb3rs

Jan 23 "Numb3rs", starring Rob Morrow and David Krumholtz, debuts on CBS

  • Jan 25 A stampede at the Mandher Devi temple in Mandhradevi in India kills at least 258

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

Jan 26 Condoleezza Rice is sworn in as U.S. Secretary of State, the first African American woman to hold the post

  • Jan 26 Glendale train crash: Two trains derail killing 11 and injuring 200 in Glendale, California, near Los Angeles.
  • Jan 29 The first direct commercial flights from the mainland China (from Guangzhou) to Taiwan since 1949 arrives in Taipei. Shortly afterwards, a China Airlines carrier lands in Beijing.
  • Jan 30 Denmark's Queen Margrethe unveils monument at North Atlantic Wharf, Copenhagen, to the 95 people lost on MS Hans Hedtoft
  • Feb 1 Arsenal’s English Premier League record 33-game unbeaten streak at home ends when the Gunners go down, 4-2 to Manchester United at Highbury
  • Feb 1 Canada introduces the Civil Marriage Act, making Canada the fourth country to sanction same-sex marriage.
  • Feb 1 Nepalese King Gyanendra exercises Coup d'état to capture the democracy becoming Chairman of the Councils of ministers.
  • Feb 6 Super Bowl XXXIX, Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, FL: New England Patriots beat Philadelphia Eagles, 24-21; MVP: Deion Branch, New England, WR

Blair Longest Labour PM

Feb 6 Tony Blair, now the longest-serving Labour PM, marks 2,838 days as British Prime Minister

  • 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
  • Feb 8 Leaders of both Palestine and Israel declare a truce in what many hope will be a "new era of peace"
  • Feb 13 47th Grammy Awards: "Here We Go Again" and Maroon 5 win
  • Feb 14 Lebanon's former Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri, is assassinated, prompting the country to fall into chaos.
  • 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
  • Feb 14 Seven people are killed and 151 wounded in a series of bombings by suspected Al-Qaeda-linked militants that hit the Philippines' Makati financial district in Metro Manila, Davao City, and General Santos City.
  • Feb 16 2004-05 NHL season is cancelled by Commissioner Gary Bettman; first time a North American professional sports league has called off a season due to labor dispute
  • Feb 16 Kyoto Protocol comes into force following its ratification by Russia, committing industrialized nations to limit and reduce greenhouse gases

The Apprentice UK

Feb 16 The UK version of "The Apprentice" with British business magnate Alan Sugar premieres on the BBC

Daytona 500

Feb 20 47th Daytona 500: Jeff Gordon able to hold off Kurt Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr over 3 extra laps to win his third Daytona 500

  • Feb 20 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.

Summit of Interest

Feb 23 Slovakia Summit 2005 begins; George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend - 1st visit of a sitting US President to Slovakia

  • Feb 23 Vote of the controversial French law on colonialism, repealed start of 2006

Event of Interest

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

  • Feb 28 A suicide bombing at a police recruiting centre in Al Hillah, Iraq kills 127.
  • Feb 28 Lebanon's pro-Syrian prime minister, Omar Karami, resigns amid large anti-Syria street demonstrations in Beirut.

Dakota

Feb 28 Stereophonics release their single "Dakota", later their first #1 UK single

The Massacre

Mar 3 American rapper 50 Cent releases his album “The Massacre” (2005 Billboard Album of the Year, Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Album 2006)

  • Mar 3 Mayerthorpe Incident: James Roszko murders four Royal Canadian Mounted Police constables during a drug bust in Rochfort Bridge, Alberta, then commits suicide. Deadliest peace-time incident for the RCMP since 1885 North-West Rebellion.
  • Mar 3 Steve Fossett becomes the first person to fly an airplane around the world solo without any stops without refueling - a journey of 40,234 km/25,000 mi completed in 67 hours and 2 minutes.
  • Mar 4 The car of released Italian hostage Giuliana Sgrena is fired on by US soldiers in Iraq, causing the death of an Italian Secret Service Agent and injuring two passengers.
  • Mar 4 United Nations warns that about 90 million Africans could be infected by HIV in the future without further action against the spread of the disease.
  • Mar 5 The Burkinabé Party for Democracy and Socialism holds its first National Convention.
  • Mar 7 Mass protest outside the National Assembly of Kuwait building for women's voting rights in Kuwait
  • Mar 11 Miguel Rodríguez Orejuela, co-founder of the Cali Cartel, is extradited to the United States
  • Mar 12 Tung Chee Hwa, the first Chief Executive of Hong Kong, steps down from his post after his resignation is approved by the Chinese central government.

Film & TV History

Mar 13 Bob Iger is named CEO of Walt Disney International, succeeding Michael Eisner

  • Mar 13 Terry Ratzmann shoots and kills six members of the Living Church of God and the minister at Sheraton Inn in Brookfield, Wisconsin before killing himself.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Mar 14 20th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: Buddy Guy; The O'Jays; The Pretenders; Percy Sledge; U2; Frank Barsalona; and Seymour Stein

  • Mar 14 Cedar Revolution, where over a million Lebanese march in the streets of Beirut to demonstrate against the Syrian military presence in Lebanon, and against the government, following the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
  • Mar 16 Israel officially hands over Jericho to Palestinian control.

The Suite Life of Zack & Cody

Mar 18 "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" premieres on the Disney Channel, starring Dylan and Cole Sprouse

  • Mar 18 Terri Schiavo's feeding tube is removed at the request of her husband
  • Mar 20 A magnitude 6.6 earthquake hits Fukuoka, Japan, its first major quake in over 100 years. One person is killed, hundreds are injured and evacuated.
  • Mar 23 Major explosion and fire at the BP's Texas City Refinery kills 15 workers in Texas City, Texas
  • Mar 23 The United States 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, refuses to order the reinsertion of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube

The Office

Mar 24 US version of "The Office" created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, developed by Greg Daniels, starring Steve Carell and John Krasinski premieres on NBC

Doctor Who

Mar 26 "Doctor Who" returns to BBC TV after 16 years with the debut of Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor and Billie Piper as Rose

  • Mar 26 The Taiwanese government calls on 1 million Taiwanese to demonstrate in Taipei, in opposition to the Anti-Secession Law of the People's Republic of China. Around 200,000 to 300,000 attend the walk.

Golf Major

Mar 27 Kraft Nabisco Championship Women's Golf, Mission Hills CC: Annika Sörenstam of Sweden wins event for the 3rd time, 8 strokes ahead of American Rosie Jones

Grey's Anatomy

Mar 27 TV medical drama "Grey's Anatomy" created by Shonda Rhimes starring Ellen Pompeo and Sandra Oh debuts on ABC

  • Mar 28 The 2005 Sumatran earthquake rocks Indonesia, and at magnitude 8.7 is the second strongest earthquake since 1960.

We Belong Together

Mar 29 "We Belong Together" single is released by Mariah Carey (Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 2006, Billboard Song of the Year 2005)

  • Apr 2 Bubba Stewart becomes first African-American to win a major motor sports event when he takes out the Monster Energy AMA Supercross C'ship event in Irving, Texas
  • Apr 2 Newcastle United teammates Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer are sent off for fighting each other in a 3-0 home defeat to EPL rivals Aston Villa at St. James’ Park
  • Apr 5 The Washington Nationals lose their inaugural season opener, 8-4 to the Philadelphia Phillies; first team to represent the nation's capital since the Washington Senators left after the 1971 season

Event of Interest

Apr 6 Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani becomes the Iraqi president; Shiite Arab Ibrahim al-Jaafari is named premier the next day

Event of Interest

Apr 7 Head of government of the Federal District, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, faces an impeachment process at the Mexican Congress

  • Apr 10 At 16 years, 271 days James Vaughan scores for Everton in a 4-0 win against Crystal Palace at Goodison Park; becomes youngest goalscorer in EPL history
  • Apr 14 The Oregon Supreme Court nullifies marriage licenses issued to gay couples a year earlier by Multnomah County

Papal Inauguration

Apr 19 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger elected Pope Benedict XVI on the second day of the Papal conclave.

  • Apr 23 NFL Draft: University of Utah quarterback Alex Smith first pick by San Francisco 49ers
  • Apr 23 YouTube's co-founder Jawed Karim uploads the first video to YouTube, "Me at the zoo" showing him in front of two elephants at the San Diego Zoo. Has over 311 million views. [1]
  • Apr 24 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is inaugurated as the 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church taking the name Pope Benedict XVI.
  • Apr 25 107 die in Amagasaki rail crash in Japan
  • Apr 25 Bulgaria and Romania sign accession treaties to join the European Union
  • Apr 25 Final piece of the Obelisk of Axum is returned to Ethiopia after being stolen by the invading Italian army in 1937

Devils and Dust Released

Apr 26 Columbia Records releases Bruce Springsteen's 13th studio album "Devils and Dust"

  • 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 the country
  • Apr 27 The superjumbo jet aircraft Airbus A380 makes its first flight from Toulouse, France
  • Apr 28 The Patent Law Treaty goes into effect.
  • Apr 29 New Zealand's first civil union takes place
  • Apr 29 Syria completes withdrawal from Lebanon, ending 29 years of occupation

Sports History

May 1 17-year old Lionel Messi scores his 1st senior league goal for FC Barcelona in 2-0 win against Albacete Balompié, at the Spotify Camp Nou in Barcelona

From Under the Cork Tree

May 3 Fall Out Boy's breakthrough album "From Under the Cork Tree" is released through Island Records

Election of Interest

May 5 George Galloway is elected as MP for Bethnal Green and Bow in the general election

  • May 5 Tony Blair's Labour Party is re-elected for a third consecutive term in UK general election
  • May 8 The new Canadian War Museum opens, in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of V-E Day

The Huffington Post

May 9 Liberal commentary website The Huffington Post is launched

  • May 10 A hand grenade thrown by Vladimir Arutyunian lands about 65 feet (20 metres) from U.S. President George W. Bush while giving a speech to a crowd in Tbilisi, Georgia, it malfunctions and does not detonate
  • May 13 The Andijan Massacre occurs in Uzbekistan
  • May 14 Former USS America (CV-66), a decommissioned supercarrier of the US Navy, deliberately sunk in the Atlantic Ocean after four weeks of live-fire exercises. Largest ship ever to be disposed of as a target in a military exercise.
  • May 14 Pope Benedict XVI observes his first beatification, elevating Blessed Marianne of Molokai on the road to canonization into sainthood

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

May 15 "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith", directed by George Lucas, starring Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman, premieres at the Cannes Film Festival

Laureus Awards

May 15 Laureus World Sports Awards, Casino Estoril, Portugal: Sportsman: Roger Federer; Sportswoman: Kelly Holmes; Team: Greece Men's National Football team

  • May 16 Kuwait permits women's suffrage in a 35-23 National Assembly vote

Music History

May 17 Australian singer Kylie Minogue is diagnosed with breast cancer at 36

  • May 19 TV political comedy "The Thick of It" created by Armando Iannucci, starring Peter Capaldi and Chris Langham premieres on BBC 4
  • May 22 58th Cannes Film Festival: "The Child" directed by Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne wins the Palme d'Or

Madagascar

May 27 DreamWorks releases computer-animated film "Madagascar" with voices by Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, and Jada Pinkett-Smith

Sports History

May 28 Super Rugby Final, Christchurch: Canterbury Crusaders claim their 5th title with a 35-25 win over the NSW Waratahs; Dan Carter lands 3 conversions & 2 penalties for the winners

  • May 29 France resoundingly rejects the European Constitution

Hell's Kitchen

May 30 Gordon Ramsay first appears on US television in cooking competition show "Hell's Kitchen" on Fox

  • May 31 Mark Felt, former FBI high ranking official revealed as "Deep Throat" source during Watergate investigations in "Vanity Fair" article
  • Jun 1 The Dutch referendum on the European Constitution results in its rejection
  • Jun 1 The longest oil/natural gas explosion in the Houston, Texas area occurs in Crosby, Texas. The drill was owned by the Louisiana Oil and Gas Company.

The Knight of Sainte-Hermine

Jun 3 "The Knight of Sainte-Hermine" by Alexandre Dumas is published in France by Editions Phébus, completed by Claude Schopp, 135 years after the author's death.

  • Jun 4 Panamanian jockey Eddie Castro sets a North American record with 9 wins on the 13-race card at Calder Race Course in Miami, Florida
  • Jun 5 59th Tony Awards: "Monty Python's Spamalot" (musical) & "Doubt: A Parable" (play) win
  • Jun 6 The United States Supreme Court votes to ban medical marijuana in Gonzales v. Raich.

Music History

Jun 13 A jury in Santa Maria, California acquits pop singer Michael Jackson of molesting 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo at his Neverland Ranch

  • Jun 14 Asafa Powell of Jamaica sets a new Men's 100 meters world record of 9.77 at the Athens Olympic Stadium

Film & TV History

Jun 18 David Tennant's first appearance as the Tenth Doctor in BBC "Doctor Who" episode "The Parting of the Ways"

Sports History

Jun 19 Michael Schumacher wins controversial United States Formula 1 Grand Prix where only 6 of 20 cars complete the race amongst ridicule of F1 safety and tyre rules

TheFutureEmbrace

Jun 21 Billy Corgan releases "TheFutureEmbrace", his first solo album

Event of Interest

Jun 23 Reddit founded by American University of Virginia students Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian

  • Jun 27 "Bad Day" single is released by Daniel Powter, 1st song to sell 2 million digital copies in the US (Billboard Song of the Year 2006)

Event of Interest

Jun 27 AMD files broad antitrust complaints against Intel Corporation in U.S. Federal District Court, alleging abuse of monopoly powers and antitrust violations.

  • Jun 28 A final design for Manhattan's Freedom Tower is formally unveiled
  • Jun 28 NBA Draft: Utah center Andrew Bogut first pick by Milwaukee Bucks
  • Jun 28 Operation Red Wings: 3 members of US Navy SEAL reconnaissance team killed on Sawtalo Sar Mountain, Kunar, Afghanistan, in an ambush; 2 helicopters dispatched to assist shot down, killing an additional 16 US troops [1]
  • Jun 30 Spain legalizes same-sex marriage.
  • Jul 1 Texas Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers is suspended for 20 games and fined $50k for shoving a cameraman - sentence later overturned

Live 8 Concert

Jul 2 10 Live 8 concerts held around the world organised by Bob Geldof to raise awareness of poverty

  • Jul 2 Live 8 concert at Chateau de Versailles, Paris, France; performers include Andrea Bocelli, Dido, Sahakira, Youssou N'Dour, The Cure, and Zucchero
  • Jul 2 Live 8 concert at Circus Maximus, Rome, Italy; performers include Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, and Zucchero
  • Jul 2 Live 8 concert at Park Place in Barrie, Ontario, Canada; performers include Neil Young, Bryan Adams; The Tragically Hip; Motley Crue; Gordon Lightfoot; Deep Purple, and Bruce Cockburn
  • Jul 2 Live 8 concert at the Eden Project, Cornwall, England; performers included Daara J, Thomas Mapfumo, Youssou N'Dour, Angelique Kidjo, and Coco Mbassi
  • Jul 2 Live 8 concert at the Victory Column in Tiergarten Park, Berlin, Germany; performers include Green Day; a-ha; Brian Wilson, Roxy Music, Audioslave, and Herbert Grönemeyer
  • Jul 2 Live 8 concert in front of Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; performers include Stevie Wonder, Bon Jovi, The Black-Eyed Peas, Keith Urban, Dave Matthews Band, Maroon 5, and Linkin Park
  • Jul 2 Live 8 concert In Mercy Fitzgerald Square, Johannesburg, South Africa; performers include Lucky Dube, Mahotella Queens, Orchestra Baobob, Zola, and Vusi Mahlasela
  • Jul 2 Live 8 concert in Red Square, Moscow, Russia; performers include Pet Shop Boys, Agata Kristi, Splean, and Red Elvises
  • Jul 3 The national law legalizing same-sex marriage takes effect in Spain
  • Jul 4 The Deep Impact collider hits the comet Tempel 1
  • Jul 6 IOC awards London the right to host the Games of the XXX Olympiad in 2012 with a vote of 54 to 50 over Paris on the fourth and final ballot.
  • Jul 6 Live 8 concert at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland; performers include Wet Wet Wet, Annie Lennox, James Brown, the Corrs, and The Proclaimers
  • 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 10 Hurricane Dennis slams into the Florida Panhandle causing billions of dollars in damage
  • Jul 13 TV police procedural "The Closer" debuts on TNT starring Kyra Sedgwick

Wedding Crashers

Jul 15 "Wedding Crashers", starring Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn, premieres

Appointment of Interest

Jul 15 After declining an offer to remain with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Mike Babcock is named head coach of the Detroit Red Wings

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Jul 16 "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince", the 6th book in the series by J. K. Rowling, is published worldwide. 9 million copies sell in 24 hrs

  • Jul 20 Canada becomes the fourth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, after the bill C-38 receives its Royal Assent
  • Jul 21 Four terrorist bombers target London's public transportation system, exactly two weeks after the July 7 bombings. All four bombs fail to detonate leading to the capture of all the bombers.
  • Jul 22 Jean Charles de Menezes is killed by police as the hunt begins for the London Bombers. See 7 July 2005 London bombings and 21 July 2005 London bombings
  • Jul 23 Three bombs explode in the Naama Bay area of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, killing 88 people
  • Jul 24 92nd Tour de France: no winner; Lance Armstrong retires after winning a record seventh consecutive victory but disqualified in 2012 for doping
  • Jul 26 Mumbai, India receives 99.5cm of rain (39.17 inches) within 24 hours, bringing the city to a halt for over 2 days
  • Jul 26 Samir Geagea, the Lebanese Forces (LF) leader, is released after spending 11 years in a solitary confinement; his release came after Syria ends occupation of Lebanon
  • Jul 26 Space Shuttle program: STS-114 Mission - Launch of Discovery, NASA's first scheduled flight mission after the Columbia Disaster in 2003
  • Jul 27 STS-114: NASA grounds the Space shuttle, pending an investigation of the external tank's continued foam-shedding problem
  • Jul 28 A tornado touches down in a residential area in south Birmingham, England, causing £4,000,000 worth of damages and injuring 39 people.
  • Jul 28 The Provisional Irish Republican Army call an end to their thirty year long armed campaign in Northern Ireland
  • Jul 29 Astronomers announce their discovery of dwarf planet Eris

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Aug 1 Stieg Larsson's novel "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (first of the Millennium series) is published posthumously in Sweden

  • Aug 2 MESSENGER spacecraft performs an Earth flyby
  • Aug 2 The largest trade in NBA history is completed as 5 teams combine to swap 13 players; deal brings Antoine Walker & Jason Williams to Miami, leads to Heat's 1st ever championship that season
  • Aug 3 President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya of Mauritania is overthrown in a military coup while attending the funeral of King Fahd in Saudi Arabia

Sports History

Aug 4 American Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day (52) announces his retirement from the saddle; $298m in career purses

Event of Interest

Aug 4 Prime Minister Paul Martin announces that Michaëlle Jean will be Canada's 27th and first black Governor General

  • Aug 5 Discovery of Skull 5, the earliest complete Homo erectus skull aged 1.8 million years old, at Dmanisi, Georgia, by archaeologist David Lordkipanidze, site of first known hominids to leave Africa [1]
  • Aug 5 NBA announces Las Vegas will host the 2007 All Star game; first time event will be held in a city without an NBA team

Baseball Record

Aug 5 St. Louis Cardinals 1st baseman Albert Pujols becomes the first player to connect for 30 home runs in each of his first 5 MLB seasons

  • Aug 7 In one of cricket history's closest Tests, and despite a brave unbeaten 43 from Australian tail-ender Brett Lee, England sneaks a 2-run win in series turning 2nd Test at Edgbaston
  • Aug 12 An F1 tornado strikes Glen Cove, New York, a rare event on Long Island
  • Aug 12 An F2 tornado strikes the coal mining town of Wright, Wyoming, destroying nearly 100 homes and killing two people.
  • Aug 12 Civil unrest provoked in the Maldives
  • Aug 12 Sri Lanka's foreign minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, is fatally shot by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam sniper at his home
  • Aug 16 West Caribbean Airways Flight 708 crashes near Machiques, Venezuela, killing all 160 aboard.
  • Aug 17 The first forced evacuation of settlers, as part of the Israel unilateral disengagement plan, starts.
  • Aug 18 Dennis Rader is sentenced to 175 years in prison for the BTK (Bind, Torture, Kill) serial killings in Sedgwick County, Kansas.
  • Aug 18 Massive power blackout hits the Indonesian island of Java, affecting almost 100 million people.
  • Aug 19 A series of strong storms lashes Southern Ontario spawning several tornadoes as well as creating extreme flash flooding within the city of Toronto and its surrounding communities. In Toronto, it is also dubbed as the Toronto Supercell.
  • Aug 19 The first-ever joint military exercise between Russia and China, called Peace Mission 2005 begins

Hurricane Katrina

Aug 23 Hurricane Katrina forms over the Bahamas, later becoming a category 5 hurricane

  • Aug 23 TANS Peru Flight 204 crashes near Pucallpa, Peru, killing 41.

Music History

Aug 26 US Postal Service christens a Los Angeles facility as "The Ray Charles Station"

  • Aug 28 The Tradition Senior Men's Golf, Reserve Vineyards & GC: Loren Roberts wins first of 4 Champions Tour majors with bogey on 2nd playoff hole against Dana Quigley
  • 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.
  • Aug 31 A stampede on Al-Aaimmah bridge in Baghdad kills 1,199 people.
  • Sep 1 Seven members and former members of the AFL-CIO form a new trade union organization, the Change to Win Federation.
  • Sep 3 After beating South Africa the previous weekend, New Zealand clinch their 6th Tri Nations Rugby Series with a 34-24 win over Australia in Auckland; All Blacks winger Doug Howlett crosses for 3 tries

Sports History

Sep 4 20-year-old Kyle Busch becomes youngest driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race when he out duels Greg Biffle in the Sony HD 500 at California Speedway

  • Sep 5 Mandala Airlines Flight 91 crashes into a heavily-populated residential area, seconds after taking off from Medan in Sumatra, Indonesia, killing 100 people on board and 49 people on the ground
  • Sep 7 First presidential election was held in Egypt.
  • Sep 8 Two EMERCOM Il-76 aircraft 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.

Pride & Prejudice

Sep 11 "Pride & Prejudice", the film adaptation of Jane Austen's novel of the same name, starring Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet, is released

  • Sep 11 The State of Israel completes its unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip.