Global:
* Hurricane Katrina: One of the deadliest and costliest hurricanes in US history, devastating New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
* London bombings: Four coordinated terrorist attacks on London's transport system, killing 52 people and injuring over 700.
* Tsunami relief efforts: Continued aid and reconstruction efforts following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
* Death of Pope John Paul II: The long-reigning Pope passed away, leading to the election of Pope Benedict XVI.
* Live 8 concerts: Global concerts organized by Bob Geldof to raise awareness and funds for poverty in Africa.
* The start of the Arab Spring: The Tunisian Revolution, which would eventually spark a wave of pro-democracy uprisings across the Arab world, began with the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi.
United States:
* Hurricane Katrina: As mentioned above, this disaster had a profound impact on the US, exposing weaknesses in disaster preparedness and highlighting social and economic inequalities.
* The Terri Schiavo case: A highly publicized and controversial case concerning a woman in a persistent vegetative state, which led to a legal battle over her life support.
* The Iraq War: Continued fighting and political instability in Iraq, with the insurgency escalating.
* The Supreme Court confirmation of John Roberts: Roberts was appointed as Chief Justice of the United States, replacing William Rehnquist.
* The launch of YouTube: The video-sharing platform launched, revolutionizing online content creation and consumption.
Other notable events:
* The first flight of the Airbus A380: The world's largest passenger airliner took its maiden flight.
* The discovery of Eris: A dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt, larger than Pluto, was discovered.
* The release of several popular movies and music albums: Including Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and albums by Kanye West, Green Day, and Coldplay.
This is just a brief overview, and many other significant events occurred in 2005. The year was marked by both tragedy and progress, leaving lasting impacts on the world.