2005 World History Mahmoud Abbas (1935– ) Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (1956– ) Angela Merkel (1954– ) Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (1938– ) 2005 Worldwide aid pours in to help the 11 Asian countries devastated by the Dec. 26, 2004, tsunami(Jan.). Mahmoud Abbaswins presidency of the Palestinian Authorityin a landslide(Jan. 9). The Sudanesegovernment and rebels from southern Sudan sign a peace agreement to end a 20-year conflict that has claimed about 2 million people(Jan. 9). George W. Bushis officially sworn in for his second term as president(Jan. 20). Iraqi elections to select a 275-seat National Assembly take place despite threats of violence. A total of 8.5 million people voted, representing about 58% of those Iraqis eligible to vote(Jan. 30).In State of the Union address, President Bush announces his plan to reform Social Security; despite months of campaigning, his plan receives only a lukewarm reception(Feb. 2).Saudis (men only) are allowed to vote for the first time in municipal elections(Feb. 10).Former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri> a nationalist who had called for Syria'swithdrawal from Lebanon—is assassinated(Feb. 14). The Terry Schiavocase becomes the focus of an emotionally charged battle in Congress(March 20).Schiavo dies 13 days after a federal judge refuses to order the reinsertion of her feeding tube(March 31). Pope John Paul IIdies(April 2).Violent protests follow March elections in Kyrgyzstan,which international monitors deem severely flawed. President Askar Akayevflees the country and then resigns(April 4). Benedict XVIbecomes the next pope(April 24).The Syrianmilitary, stationed in Lebanonfor 29 years, withdraws(April 26). Tony Blairbecomes first Labour Party prime minister to win three successive terms, but his party loses a large number of seats in the elections(May 5).South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-sukannounces that he has devised a new procedure to successfully produce human stem cell lines from a cloned human embryo(May 20),but claim is discredited in Dec. 2005. The European Union abandons plans to ratify the proposed European constitution by 2006 after both France and the Netherlands vote against it(June 16).Former Tehran mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a hard-line conservative, wins Iran's presidential election with 62% of the vote. He defiantly pursues Iran's nuclear ambitions over the course of his first year(June 24).Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connorannounces her retirement(July 1). NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft hits comet Tempel 1in effort to research primordial remnants of our solar system(July 4). Londonhit by Islamic terrorist bombings, killing 52 and wounding about 700. It is Britain's worst attack since World War II(July 7). Group of Eightindustrial nations pledge to double aid to Africa to $50 billion a year by 2010, cancel the debt of many poor countries, and open trade.(July 8).Federal appeals court upholds lower court decision that so-called Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act is unlawful because it fails to make an exception to the law for women whose health would be in jeopardy without the late-term procedure(July 8).Pentagon assessment finds Iraq'spolice force is, at best, “partially capable” of fighting the country's insurgency. The U.S.'s eventual withdrawal plan hinges upon Iraqi security forces replacing U.S. soldiers: “As Iraqis stand up, Americans will stand down,” President Bush had stated(July 20).The Irish Republican Army announces it is officially ending its violent campaign for a united Ireland and will instead pursue its goals politically(July 27). President Bushsigns the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), which will remove trade barriers between the U.S. and Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua(Aug. 2).The Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) sign a peace accordto end their nearly 30-year-long civil war(Aug. 15). Israelbegins evacuating about 8,000 Israeli settlers from the Gaza Strip, which has been occupied by Israel for the last 38 years(Aug. 15). Hurricane Katrinawreaks catastrophic damage on the Gulf Coast; more than 1,000 die and millions are left homeless. Americans are shaken not simply by the magnitude of the disaster but by how ill-prepared all levels of government were in its aftermath.(Aug. 25–30).Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist,who served on the U.S. Supreme Court for 33 years, dies(Sept. 3). John Roberts, Jr.,becomes 17th chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court(Sept. 22).Another major hurricane, Rita, ravages the Gulf Coast(Sept. 23).House majority leader Tom DeLayis accused of conspiring to violate Texas's election laws. He steps aside from his House leadership position(Sept. 28).A 7.6 earthquake centered in the Pakistani-controlled part of the Kashmir region kills more than 80,000 and leaves an estimated 4 million homeless(Oct. 2). President Bushselects Harriet Miers,White House counsel, to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor(Oct. 3).