2005
What is the powerful hurricane that hit the U.S. Gulf Coast in late August, causing catastrophic flooding in New Orleans, billions of dollars in damage, and claiming over 1,800 lives.
Hurricane Katrina
A catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean, destroying the capital Port-au-Prince and killing an estimated 200,000 to 315,000 people, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern history. What country did it strike?
Haiti
Bataclan theatre and Stade de France, killed 130 people in the deadliest event on French soil since World War II. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks. What attack was this?
Paris Attack
Countries around the world implemented widespread "stay-at-home" orders, closed schools and businesses, and halted international travel to curb the virus's spread. What major virus is this?
Coronavirus
Who is inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States on January 20?
Donald Trump
Who was the former Iraqi leader on trial following the approval of Iraq's new constitution?
Saddam Hussein
Apple released the first-generation of a device. What is the device?
Ipad
Over a million refugees and migrants, primarily from the Syrian Civil War and instability in the Middle East and Africa, arrived in Europe by land and sea. Heart-wrenching image of Aylan Kurdi, a drowned three-year-old Syrian boy, on a Turkish beach. What crisis was this?
European Migrant Crisis
The murder of an unarmed Black man, by a Minneapolis police officer in May sparked a national and global movement against police brutality and systemic racism. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests were some of the largest demonstrations in U.S. history, and solidarity protests occurred in dozens of countries worldwide. What movements and protests is this called
George Floyd Protests/Black Lives Matter
What country hosts the COP30 climate conference in the Amazon city of Belém in November?
Brazii
What is the video sharing platform that began this year?
YouTube
The popular photo and video-sharing social media platform was launched. What app was it?
A devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Gorkha Kingdom, killing nearly 9,000 people and causing widespread destruction, including avalanches on Mount Everest. What is the location?
Nepal
Joe Biden defeating the incumbent Donald Trump, with the highest voter turnout in history. The results were disputed by the incumbent president, leading to legal challenges and political turmoil that extended past the end of the year. What major event is this?
U.S. Presidential Election
What assembly happened in New York September?
UN General Assembly
What was the international treaty aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions?
Kyoto Protocol
The tallest man made structure in the world was built and officially opened. What structure was opened?
Burj Khalifa
Nearly 200 countries met at the COP 21 climate summit in capital of France and agreed on a landmark pact to reduce carbon emissions and limit the global temperature increase. What city did they meet in and agree on?
Paris Agreement
NBA legend and his 13-year-old daughter and seven others died in a tragic helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. Who is this legend?
Kobe Bean Bryant
What takes place in Osaka, Japan, from April 13 to October 13?
World Expo 2025
What Pope died in 2005? He prompted over four million people to travel to the Vatican to mourn. He was succeeded by Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope John Paul II
What miners got stuck in a cave that had to wait 69 days to get rescued?
"Los 33"
NASA scientists announced in September that they found evidence of flowing liquid water on a planet. What planet is that?
Mars
What private company became the first to launch NASA astronauts into orbit in May, heralding a new era of commercial spaceflight. What company is that?
SpaceX Launch
South Africa is the first African country to hold the what presidency?
G20