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Major Events of May 2015: 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 2015 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of May 2015: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 May 2015 Freddie Gray Death Investigation: In a landmark case, Maryland State Attorney Marilyn Mosby ruled Freddie Gray's death a homicide. Six Baltimore Police Department officers were taken into custody and charged with second-degree murder, involuntary killing, and misconduct, sparking nationwide discussions about police accountability and racial justice.
  • 02 May 2015 Nepal Earthquake Aftermath: The devastating April 2015 Nepal earthquake resulted in 7,040 confirmed fatalities and 14,025 injuries. Thousands remain missing, and Nepalese authorities have abandoned hope of finding additional survivors among the earthquake's rubble.
  • 03 May 2015 Nepal Earthquake Aftermath: Following the devastating April 2015 Nepal earthquake, Kathmandu International Airport was closed to large relief aircraft due to runway strain. The death toll had risen to 7,000 and was expected to increase further, highlighting the massive humanitarian crisis.
  • 04 May 2015 Mediterranean Migration Crisis Intensifies: A tragic report revealed that 10 people died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea, with 5,800 migrants rescued by authorities. The incident highlighted the ongoing humanitarian crisis of people smuggling and dangerous migration routes.
  • 05 May 2015 Alberta's Historic Political Shift: In a landmark election, Rachel Notley's New Democratic Party won a majority in Alberta's Legislative Assembly, ending the Progressive Conservative Party's 40-year political dominance.
  • 06 May 2015 Germanwings Flight 9525 Investigation Reveals Copilot's Premeditation: French investigators confirmed that Andreas Lubitz was responsible for the Germanwings Flight 9525 murder-suicide tragedy. Evidence suggested he had previously practiced rapid descent, indicating premeditated intent to crash the aircraft.
  • 07 May 2015 UK General Election: Conservative Victory: The United Kingdom held its general election, with the Conservative Party securing a narrow majority in the House of Commons. Notably, the Scottish National Party dominated Scotland, significantly reducing the Scottish Labour Party's representation.
  • 08 May 2015 UK General Election: Conservative Victory: The Conservative Party, led by David Cameron, won a surprising majority in the 2015 UK general election, enabling them to form a government without coalition partners. The Scottish National Party dramatically swept nearly all Scottish seats, signaling significant political shifts.
  • 09 May 2015 Liberia Declared Ebola-Free: The World Health Organization officially declared an end to the Ebola virus outbreak in Liberia after weeks of zero reported cases, signaling a major milestone in the fight against the epidemic.
  • 10 May 2015 Nepal Earthquake Death Toll Rises: The April 2015 Nepal earthquake's death toll reached 8,000. Rescue efforts were significantly hampered by avalanches in mountainous regions.
  • 11 May 2015 David Cameron Forms New UK Cabinet: British Prime Minister David Cameron announced the formation of a new Cabinet composed entirely of Conservative Party members following the party's election victory.
  • 12 May 2015 Massive Nepal Earthquake: A devastating earthquake struck Nepal, killing 218 people and injuring more than 3,500, causing widespread destruction and humanitarian crisis in the region.
  • 13 May 2015 Philadelphia Train Derailment: A catastrophic train accident resulted in seven fatalities and over 200 injuries. Preliminary investigations suggest the train was traveling at 100 mph in a curve with a 50 mph speed limit, potentially indicating operator error or mechanical failure.
  • 14 May 2015 White House Meets with Gulf Cooperation Council: President Barack Obama hosted the Gulf Cooperation Council at the White House, with the proposed Iranian nuclear agreement being a critical topic of discussion. The meeting underscored the complex geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
  • 15 May 2015 Boston Marathon Bomber Sentenced: Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (corrected spelling) was sentenced for his involvement in the Boston Marathon Bombings, a terrorist attack that shocked the United States and led to significant discussions about domestic terrorism and public safety.
  • 16 May 2015 Sinai Insurgency Violence: Gunmen targeted and shot three Egyptian judges on the Sinai Peninsula, seemingly in retaliation for Mohamed Morsi's death sentence, highlighting the ongoing political and sectarian tensions in the region.
  • 17 May 2015 Islamic State Captures Ramadi, Iraq: After government forces retreated, the Islamic State militant group successfully took control of Ramadi, a significant city in Iraq, marking another strategic territorial gain for the extremist organization.
  • 18 May 2015 ISIS Captures Ramadi: Islamic State militants captured the strategically important city of Ramadi in Iraq's Anbar Governorate, resulting in 500 reported deaths and causing approximately 8,000 people to flee.
  • 19 May 2015 Germanwings Flight 9525 Victims Identified: French prosecutors announced that all passengers from the tragic Germanwings plane crash in southern France had been identified, allowing families to begin the process of mourning and closure.
  • 20 May 2015 Oldest Known Tools Discovered in Kenya: Archaeologists Sonia Harmand and Jason Lewis from Stony Brook University discovered the oldest known stone tools near Lake Turkana, Kenya, providing unprecedented insights into early human technological development.
  • 21 May 2015 Freddie Gray Case: Police Officers Indicted: A grand jury in Baltimore indicted six police officers in connection with the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody. All six officers face reckless endangerment charges, marking a significant moment in the ongoing national conversation about police accountability and racial justice.
  • 22 May 2015 Ireland Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage via Public Referendum: The Republic of Ireland made history by becoming the first nation in the world to legalize same-sex marriage through a national public referendum. This landmark decision represented a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ rights, reflecting a profound social and cultural shift in a traditionally conservative Catholic country.
  • 23 May 2015 Ireland Approves Same-Sex Marriage via Referendum: The Republic of Ireland became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage through a national referendum, marking a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ rights.
  • 24 May 2015 Taliban Attack in Afghanistan: In a brutal assault on Afghan security forces, Taliban militants attacked checkpoints in Helmand Province, resulting in the death of at least ten Afghan police officers, further highlighting the ongoing instability in the region.
  • 25 May 2015 Islamic State Captures Ramadi: The Islamic State's capture of Ramadi, an Iraqi city, triggered a mass exodus, with nearly 55,000 people fleeing the area to escape the militant group's control.
  • 26 May 2015 US Court Blocks Obama's Immigration Executive Action: The US Appeals Court ruled against President Barack Obama's executive action on immigration, preventing its implementation while legal challenges from Texas and 25 other states are ongoing, highlighting the complex political landscape of immigration policy.
  • 27 May 2015 FIFA Corruption Arrests: Six high-ranking FIFA officials were detained in Switzerland on corruption allegations dating back to the 1990s. Notable arrests included Jeffrey Webb, Jack Warner, and others like Eugenio Figueredo and Jose Maria Marin, signaling a major crackdown on corruption in international football.
  • 28 May 2015 2015 Texas-Oklahoma Tornado Outbreak: A devastating tornado outbreak in Texas and Oklahoma resulted in 21 confirmed deaths, with 11 people still missing. The disaster extended into northern Mexico, where an additional 14 people were killed, highlighting the severe meteorological event's widespread impact.
  • 29 May 2015 US Removes Cuba from Terrorism List: The United States officially removed Cuba from its State Sponsors of Terrorism List, marking a significant diplomatic breakthrough and a key step in normalizing relations between the two countries after decades of tension.
  • 30 May 2015 Mediterranean Migration Crisis: The Italian Coast Guard reported a devastating migrant crisis, with 17 people losing their lives and 4,200 individuals rescued from the Mediterranean Sea. International rescue efforts involved ships from multiple European countries, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian challenge of illegal migration from Africa to Europe.
  • 31 May 2015 Nepal Earthquake Aftermath: Following the devastating April 2015 earthquake that destroyed over 25,000 classrooms and claimed more than 8,000 lives, Nepal has begun the process of educational recovery by reopening thousands of schools, demonstrating resilience in the face of catastrophic destruction.