Major Events of March 2005: Key Historical Moments from the Month
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Major Events of March 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 March 2005 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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

  • 01 Mar 2005 Turkmenistan President's Bizarre Healthcare Policy: In March 2005, Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov implemented a healthcare policy that included renaming medical institutions after himself and his family, and banning the use of certain medical terms, leading to international criticism. source: theguardian.com
  • 02 Mar 2005 Bill Gates receives honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II: On March 2, 2005, Microsoft founder Bill Gates was awarded an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II in a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace. The honor recognized his significant contributions to global health and his business achievements in the United Kingdom. As a U.S. citizen, Gates was permitted to use the title 'KBE' (Knight Commander of the British Empire) after his name, but not 'Sir'. source: news.microsoft.com
  • 04 Mar 2005 Death of Carlos Sherman, Uruguayan-Belarusian Writer: Carlos Sherman, a notable Uruguayan-born Belarusian translator and writer who contributed to multilingual literary works, passed away. Born in 1934, he was an important figure in cross-cultural literary exchanges.
  • 05 Mar 2005 Undersea Volcano Eruption Off Washington Coast: Scientists converged 300 miles offshore from Washington state to investigate an ongoing undersea volcanic eruption, accompanied by frequent magnitude 4.0 earthquakes, presenting a rare opportunity for geological research.
  • 06 Mar 2005 Bolivian President Carlos Mesa resigns: Carlos Mesa resigned as President of Bolivia on March 6, 2005, following widespread protests and political unrest. source: bbc.com
  • 07 Mar 2005 Hans Bethe, nuclear physicist, dies: Renowned nuclear physicist Hans Bethe passed away on March 7, 2005, at the age of 98. source: nytimes.com
  • 08 Mar 2005 Massive opposition rally in Beirut: On March 8, 2005, a large opposition rally took place in Beirut, Lebanon, demanding political reforms and the withdrawal of Syrian forces. source: reuters.com
  • 09 Mar 2005 Dan Rather's Final CBS Evening News Broadcast: On March 9, 2005, Dan Rather concluded his 24-year tenure as anchor of the CBS Evening News, delivering his final broadcast after covering major news stories for four decades. source: cbsnews.com
  • 10 Mar 2005 Suicide Bombing in Mosul, Iraq: A devastating suicide bombing at a Shia funeral in Mosul, Iraq, resulted in the tragic loss of 47 lives, highlighting the ongoing sectarian violence in the region.
  • 11 Mar 2005 Central African Republic Election Runoff: The first round of elections in the Central African Republic concluded, setting the stage for a runoff between top candidates Francois Bozize and Martin Ziguele.
  • 12 Mar 2005 Ukraine begins Iraq troop withdrawal: On March 12, 2005, Ukraine initiated the withdrawal of its 1,650-strong contingent from Iraq. The first group of soldiers departed from their base near al-Suwayra, with plans to return to Ukraine by March 15. This move followed President Viktor Yushchenko's order for a phased pullout, aiming to complete the withdrawal by October 15. source: aljazeera.com
  • 13 Mar 2005 Hu Jintao elected chairman of state Central Military Commission: On March 13, 2005, Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China and president of China, was elected chairman of the state Central Military Commission, succeeding Jiang Zemin. source: chinadaily.com.cn
  • 15 Mar 2005 New Holocaust History Museum inaugurated at Yad Vashem: On March 15, 2005, Yad Vashem, Israel's official Holocaust memorial, inaugurated a new Holocaust History Museum. Designed by architect Moshe Safdie, the museum is four times larger than its predecessor and includes the Hall of Names, which memorializes over 4.9 million victims. The opening ceremony was attended by leaders from 40 countries, including UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who emphasized the museum's role in combating hatred and intolerance. source: un.org
  • 16 Mar 2005 Israel transfers Jericho to Palestinian control: On March 16, 2005, Israel transferred control of the West Bank city of Jericho to the Palestinian Authority. This move was part of a broader plan to withdraw from certain areas in the West Bank, aiming to advance the peace process and improve relations between Israel and the Palestinians. source: Wikipedia (day-month pages)
  • 17 Mar 2005 Potential black hole creation at particle accelerator: On March 17, 2005, scientists at a particle accelerator facility announced concerns about the potential creation of a black hole during high-energy experiments. While the risk was considered minimal, the announcement sparked public debate and scientific discussions about the safety of such experiments.
  • 18 Mar 2005 Terri Schiavo's feeding tube removed: On March 18, 2005, the feeding tube of Terri Schiavo, a woman in a persistent vegetative state, was removed after a prolonged legal battle. The decision was controversial and sparked widespread debate over end-of-life care and the rights of individuals in similar medical conditions.
  • 19 Mar 2005 Pakistan's Shaheen-II missile test: On March 19, 2005, Pakistan successfully test-fired its Shaheen-II ballistic missile, capable of carrying nuclear warheads. This test demonstrated Pakistan's growing missile capabilities and was perceived as a response to regional security dynamics. source: upi.com
  • 20 Mar 2005 Bosnian Serb general to face war crimes tribunal: On March 20, 2005, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia announced that Bosnian Serb General Ratko Mladić would be indicted for war crimes, including genocide, committed during the Bosnian War. source: upi.com
  • 21 Mar 2005 Red Lake school shooting: On March 21, 2005, a tragic school shooting occurred at Red Lake Senior High School in Minnesota, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. The incident prompted national discussions on school safety and gun control. source: upi.com
  • 22 Mar 2005 UN World Water Day Launch: On March 22, 2005, the United Nations launched the International Decade for Action 'Water for Life' 2005–2015, coinciding with World Water Day. This initiative aimed to promote efforts to fulfill international commitments made on water and water-related issues by 2015. source: unwater.org
  • 23 Mar 2005 BP Texas City Refinery Explosion: On March 23, 2005, an explosion occurred at BP's Texas City refinery in Texas, USA, resulting in 15 fatalities and numerous injuries. The incident was one of the deadliest industrial accidents in the United States. source: cbsnews.com
  • 24 Mar 2005 Sony PlayStation Portable launch in North America: Sony Computer Entertainment America announced the North American release of the PlayStation Portable (PSP) on March 24, 2005, priced at $249.99. The launch included a value pack with accessories and a special UMD video of 'Spider-Man 2' for the first one million units sold. source: sony.mediaroom.com
  • 25 Mar 2005 Prince Rainier III's critical health condition: On March 25, 2005, Prince Rainier III of Monaco, aged 81, was in a "worrying" condition, attached to an artificial respirator three days after being admitted to intensive care. He was suffering from a lung infection complicated by cardiac and kidney problems. source: irishtimes.com
  • 26 Mar 2005 Taiwanese protest against China's Anti-Secession Law: On March 26, 2005, thousands of Taiwanese citizens participated in a protest against China's Anti-Secession Law, which authorized the use of force against Taiwan if it declared independence. The protest highlighted concerns over Taiwan's sovereignty and cross-strait relations. source: taipeitimes.com
  • 27 Mar 2005 BP Texas City refinery explosion: On March 27, 2005, a catastrophic explosion occurred at BP's Texas City refinery in Texas, USA. The blast resulted in 15 fatalities and numerous injuries, leading to significant scrutiny of BP's safety practices. source: cbsnews.com
  • 28 Mar 2005 2005 Northern Sumatra earthquake: On March 28, 2005, a powerful earthquake struck Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, measuring 8.7 in magnitude. The quake caused widespread damage and loss of life, leading to international humanitarian aid efforts. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 29 Mar 2005 Johnnie Cochran's death: Johnnie Cochran, the renowned American attorney known for his role in the O.J. Simpson trial, passed away on March 29, 2005, at the age of 67. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 30 Mar 2005 Czech Republic Government in Political Crisis: The Czech Republic's government faces a potential crisis after the Civic Democrats' resignation and potential withdrawal of Christian Democratic ministers. Prime Minister Stanislav Gross faces a no-confidence vote regarding his personal finances.
  • 31 Mar 2005 Iraqi child malnutrition rates surge: Malnutrition among Iraqi children under five nearly doubled since the U.S.-led invasion, rising from 4% to 7.7%, affecting approximately 400,000 children. This increase is attributed to factors such as contaminated water and inadequate sanitation. source: aljazeera.com