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Major Events of November 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 November 2005 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of November 2005: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Nov 2005 Paris Riots Escalate: The 2005 Paris riots continue for the fifth consecutive night, sparked by the deaths of two Muslim youths from electric shock. Tensions escalate after police fired tear gas into a mosque, leading to families of victims withdrawing from a meeting with Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy.
  • 02 Nov 2005 CIA Black Sites Exposed: The Washington Post revealed that the Central Intelligence Agency has been operating a network of secret 'black sites' prisons in eight foreign countries, potentially operating illegally without Congressional oversight for four years, holding terrorist suspects in locations including Afghanistan, Thailand, and Eastern European democracies.
  • 03 Nov 2005 Sagittarius A*: Supermassive Black Hole Discovery: Scientific confirmation that Sagittarius A*, a compact radio source at the center of the Milky Way, is indeed a supermassive black hole, marking a significant astronomical breakthrough.
  • 04 Nov 2005 Paris Suburb Riots Escalate: The 2005 Paris suburb riots continued for the eighth consecutive night, characterized by hundreds of arson attacks and violent confrontations. Police and firefighters were targeted with gunfire, and France was described as being in a state of crisis.
  • 05 Nov 2005 Angela Merkel Becomes First Female Chancellor of Germany: Angela Merkel made history by becoming the first female Chancellor of Germany, marking a significant milestone in German political leadership and gender representation in high-level government positions.
  • 06 Nov 2005 Evansville Tornado Disaster: A massive F3 tornado measuring over half a mile wide struck near Evansville, Indiana around 2 a.m., causing widespread destruction. More than 20 people were killed and approximately 200 injured in this catastrophic event.
  • 07 Nov 2005 China's Aggressive Avian Flu Containment Strategy: Chinese authorities implemented a dramatic nationwide containment strategy against avian influenza by closing all Beijing poultry markets and conducting door-to-door seizures of chickens and ducks. This unprecedented measure demonstrated China's commitment to preventing a potential pandemic.
  • 08 Nov 2005 Liberia Elects First Female African President: In a historic presidential runoff election, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf defeats soccer star George Weah, becoming the first woman to be elected president of an African country. She won decisively with 59.4% of the vote against Weah's 40.6%.
  • 09 Nov 2005 2005 Amman Bombings: Three coordinated terrorist attacks targeted the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Radisson SAS Hotel, and Days Inn in Amman, Jordan, killing at least 56 people and injuring 115 more, predominantly Western tourists. The attacks were later claimed by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a notorious Al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist leader.
  • 10 Nov 2005 Historic Election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Liberia: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf defeats George Weah in the Liberian presidential runoff election, becoming the first African woman to be elected as head of state. This landmark moment represents a significant milestone for women's political representation in Africa.
  • 11 Nov 2005 Saudi Arabia Joins World Trade Organization: After twelve years of complex negotiations, Saudi Arabia officially becomes a member of the World Trade Organization, signaling a major economic transformation and increased global economic integration.
  • 12 Nov 2005 Rabin Assassination Memorial: Tens of thousands gathered in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, a pivotal moment in Israeli political history.
  • 13 Nov 2005 2005 Amman Hotel Bombings: Devastating terrorist attacks in Amman, Jordan, where three simultaneous bombs exploded in popular hotels: Days Inn, Radisson SAS, and Grand Hyatt. The attacks killed 57 people and wounded hundreds. Al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia claimed responsibility, citing Jordan's friendship with the United States.
  • 14 Nov 2005 Earthquake and Tsunami off Honshu, Japan: A significant 7.0 magnitude earthquake occurred at 2138 UTC on November 14, 2005, off the east coast of Honshu, Japan. The earthquake generated a tsunami with a maximum wave height of approximately 32 cm, observed at various locations including Ofunato.
  • 15 Nov 2005 Gaza Travel Agreement: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice mediated a landmark agreement between Israelis and the Palestinian Authority, allowing Palestinians to travel in and out of the Gaza Strip with minimal restrictions.
  • 16 Nov 2005 US Maintains Internet Governance Control: Despite international opposition, the United States successfully preserves its supervisory authority over the internet through ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers).
  • 17 Nov 2005 David Irving Arrested for Holocaust Denial: English historian David Irving was detained in Vienna for violating Austria's strict laws against Holocaust denial, which is considered a criminal offense in the country.
  • 18 Nov 2005 Devastating Terrorist Attacks in Iraq: A series of coordinated terrorist attacks struck Iraq, with suicide bombings killing 74 Shia worshippers in two mosques in eastern Iraq. In Baghdad, car bombs targeted a hotel housing foreign journalists and the interior ministry, resulting in eight additional Iraqi deaths. The attacks underscored the ongoing sectarian violence and instability in the region.
  • 19 Nov 2005 Maoist Rebels in Nepal Agree to Opposition Alliance: After years of civil conflict that claimed over 12,000 lives since 1996, Maoist rebels from Nepal agreed to join opposition politicians in a united front to challenge King Gyanendra's rule, signaling a potential political breakthrough.
  • 20 Nov 2005 Iraq Conflict: Multiple Violent Incidents: A complex day of violence in Iraq involving American-led and insurgent attacks resulted in at least 40 fatalities. Additionally, reports emerged of British-trained Iraqi police torturing civilians using electric drills, and a British soldier was killed by a roadside bomb in Basra.
  • 21 Nov 2005 Iraqi Leaders Demand Troop Withdrawal Timeline: A diverse group of Iraqi leaders, including Sunni, Shiite, and Kurdish representatives, signed a statement demanding a specific timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq, signaling growing political consensus.
  • 22 Nov 2005 Angela Merkel Becomes First Female Chancellor of Germany: Angela Merkel made history by becoming the first female Chancellor of Germany, representing a significant milestone in German political leadership. A physical chemist from former East Germany, she was elected through a coalition between CDU/CSU and SPD delegates at the Bundestag.
  • 23 Nov 2005 Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Confirmed as Liberian President: Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was officially declared the winner of the Liberian presidential election, receiving 59.4% of the vote. This historic victory established her as Africa's first female elected head of state.
  • 24 Nov 2005 Environmental Crisis in Far Eastern Russia: Khabarovsk, Russia declared a state of emergency due to an 80 km benzene oil slick resulting from a Chinese chemical facility explosion. The environmental disaster threatens water supplies for millions in China and Russia, with the contamination approaching the critical Amur River.
  • 25 Nov 2005 Ukraine Seeks Recognition of Holodomor as Genocide: Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko called for international recognition of the Holodomor, the devastating man-made famine in Soviet Ukraine during 1932-1933, as an act of genocide. This marked a significant moment in Ukraine's efforts to acknowledge and memorialize this tragic historical event.
  • 26 Nov 2005 Palestinian Control of Rafah Crossing: Palestinians assume control of the Rafah crossing connecting the Gaza Strip to Egypt for the first time, a significant moment in regional border management.
  • 27 Nov 2005 First Partial Human Facial Transplant: Medical history was made in Amiens, France, with the world's first partial human facial transplant, performed by a team of pioneering surgeons to reconstruct a patient's severely damaged face.
  • 28 Nov 2005 Bush Outlines Iraq Strategy: President Bush unveiled his vision for victory in Iraq, rejecting calls from Democrats and some Republicans for a withdrawal timetable, emphasizing continued military commitment.
  • 29 Nov 2005 Allegations of Prisoner Treatment Misconduct: Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, a former senior aide to Secretary of State Colin Powell, accuses Vice President Dick Cheney of not adhering to President Bush's decision regarding prisoner treatment during the war on terror.
  • 30 Nov 2005 White House Publishes Iraq Strategy Document: The White House releases the 'National Strategy for Victory in Iraq', outlining the United States' strategic approach and objectives in the ongoing Iraq conflict.