Major Events of May 2005: Key Historical Moments from the Month
Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from May 2005 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of May 2005: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 May 2005 Lenovo Acquires IBM's Personal Computer Business: In a landmark business transaction, Lenovo Group, China's largest computer company, purchased IBM's personal computer division for US$1.25 billion in cash, also assuming $500 million of IBM's debt. This acquisition marked a significant moment in global technology and international business relations.
- 02 May 2005 Abu Ghraib Abuse Scandal Continues: Army Reservist Pfc. Lynndie England pleaded guilty to seven criminal counts related to the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal, a significant moment in the investigation of military misconduct in Iraq.
- 03 May 2005 Iran's Nuclear Activity Plans: An Iranian official announced plans to resume nuclear activity during a conference on the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, signaling potential international tensions regarding nuclear development.
- 04 May 2005 Capture of Abu Faraj al-Libbi: Pakistan announced the capture of Abu Faraj al-Libbi, considered the most prominent Al-Qaeda suspect arrested at that time. A former CIA agent also revealed details about a post-9/11 mission to Afghanistan with orders to capture or kill Osama bin Laden, with graphic instructions about handling captured leaders.
- 05 May 2005 Tony Blair's Historic Third Term: Tony Blair becomes the first Labour Party prime minister to win three consecutive terms, a significant milestone in modern British political history, demonstrating his enduring political appeal and the party's sustained public support.
- 06 May 2005 UK General Election: Tony Blair's Third Victory: The Labour Party, led by Tony Blair, secured its third consecutive electoral victory with a reduced parliamentary majority of 66 seats. This election marked a historic moment in British politics, with Blair maintaining power despite a significantly smaller margin of support.
- 07 May 2005 Insurgent Attacks in Iraq: Ongoing insurgent violence continues in Iraq, with at least 35 Iraqis killed in bombings in Mosul and Baghdad, highlighting the persistent instability in the region.
- 08 May 2005 Bush Criticizes Soviet Occupation of Baltic States: During V-E Day commemorations, U.S. President George W. Bush denounced the Soviet Union's post-World War II occupation of the Baltic States as 'one of history's greatest injustices'. He delivered this statement while visiting Margraten, Europe's third-largest war cemetery in the Netherlands.
- 09 May 2005 World War II Victory Day Commemoration in Moscow: Over 50 world leaders attend celebrations in Moscow marking the end of World War II. Notably, this is the first time a German chancellor participates in a global commemoration of the Third Reich's victims.
- 10 May 2005 Germany Unveils Holocaust Memorial: Germany officially unveiled the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin, near the Brandenburg Gate, creating a powerful and somber tribute to Holocaust victims and a significant symbol of national remembrance and reconciliation.
- 11 May 2005 Saddam Hussein Indicted for Crimes Against Humanity: Kuwaiti justice officials, with assistance from a UN war crimes expert, indicted Saddam Hussein and other Iraqi officials for crimes against humanity related to Kuwait's 1990 invasion, continuing the international legal proceedings against the former dictator.
- 12 May 2005 Oil-for-Influence Scandal Revealed: A U.S. Senate investigation uncovered evidence that British and French politicians received oil vouchers in exchange for supporting Saddam Hussein's regime. George Galloway was specifically charged with using a children's charity to hide an oil transfer, though he denied wrongdoing.
- 13 May 2005 Andijan Uprising in Uzbekistan: A tragic massacre occurred in Andijan, Uzbekistan, where government troops opened fire on crowds of protesters following a prison break. Official estimates indicate at least 187 people were killed during this violent suppression of civil unrest.
- 14 May 2005 South Korea to Resume Talks with North Korea: South Korea announced plans to resume bilateral talks with North Korea after a suspension of over a year, with the North Korean nuclear weapons program expected to be a key discussion point.
- 15 May 2005 US Diplomatic Efforts and Violence in Iraq: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Iraq, urging patience in combating insurgency. The visit was overshadowed by the grim discovery of 34 bodies in Baghdad and Iskandariya, believed to be victims of execution.
- 16 May 2005 Kuwait Grants Women Voting Rights: Kuwait made a historic step towards gender equality by allowing women to vote in the National Assembly election, with a 35-23 vote in favor of women's suffrage.
- 17 May 2005 Kylie Minogue Announces Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Popular Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue publicly announced her early-stage breast cancer diagnosis, revealing she would cancel her Australian tour and bringing significant public attention to breast cancer awareness.
- 18 May 2005 Uzbekistan Unrest and Diplomatic Tensions: Significant unrest in Uzbekistan with conflicting reports about civilian casualties. 36 foreign diplomats visited Andijan under heavy guard. The Uzbek government reported 169 deaths, while human rights groups suggested the toll could be as high as 775. Islamic rebels claimed control of the border town Qorasuv.
- 19 May 2005 Rwandan Genocide Apology: In a historic moment, General Marcel Gatsinzi, Rwanda's defense minister, publicly apologized for his participation in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. This was the first time a member of the current government acknowledged direct involvement in the tragic events.
- 20 May 2005 Star Wars Episode III Breaks Box Office Records: Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith opens with a record-breaking $50 million on its first day, surpassing previous opening day records set by Spider-Man 2 and Shrek 2, across 3,661 theaters worldwide.
- 21 May 2005 Bush Delivers Controversial Commencement Speech: President George W. Bush delivers a commencement speech at Calvin College, where a significant portion of faculty publicly criticize his administration's policies, particularly regarding the Iraq War, highlighting the deep political divisions of the time.
- 22 May 2005 German Political Shift: German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder announced early federal elections for autumn, one year ahead of constitutional schedule. This decision followed the CDU and FDP's victory in the North Rhine-Westphalia regional election, signaling potential political transformation.
- 23 May 2005 Bird Flu Outbreak Escalates in Asia: Vietnam's bird flu death toll rose to 18, while China took preventive measures by closing Qinghai province and vaccinating farm birds. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization was informed of these containment efforts to prevent further spread of the disease.
- 24 May 2005 Deadly Bombings in Iraq: A series of bombings in Iraq resulted in at least five Iraqi civilian deaths and seven US soldiers wounded, demonstrating the persistent violence and instability in the region during the Iraq War.
- 25 May 2005 Voyager 1 Approaches Interstellar Space: NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft reaches the heliosheath, preparing to become the first human-made object to enter interstellar space, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.
- 26 May 2005 A flash flood strikes Sao Paulo, Brazil.
- 27 May 2005 Qur'an Desecration Protests: Widespread protests erupted in Egypt, Pakistan, and Jordan after the US military admitted to mishandling the Qur'an, causing significant diplomatic tension and highlighting cultural sensitivities.
- 28 May 2005 Japan Closes World War II Sex Slavery Fund: Japan announced the closure of the Asian Women's Fund by March 2007. Established in 1995, the fund provided compensation and medical support of 2 million yen ($19,470) to 285 'comfort women' in South Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines who were victims of sexual slavery during World War II.
- 29 May 2005 French Referendum Rejects EU Constitution: In a significant political moment, French voters decisively rejected the draft European Union constitution, with 55% voting against the proposed treaty. This referendum sent shockwaves through European political circles and challenged the vision of a unified European political structure.
- 30 May 2005 Angela Merkel Selected as CDU/CSU Chancellor Candidate: The CDU/CSU political alliance elected Angela Merkel as their candidate for Chancellor in the 2005 German Federal Election, marking a significant moment in German political history.
- 31 May 2005 Deep Throat Reveals Identity in Watergate Scandal: W. Mark Felt, a former FBI official, publicly admits in Vanity Fair magazine that he was the anonymous source 'Deep Throat' who played a crucial role in exposing the Watergate scandal during the Nixon administration.