Timeline August 2005

Events in August 2005 11

• 1921 – 2005 King Fahd of Saudi Arabia (1921-2005) Died 1 August 2005, aged 84 King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who ruled Saudi Arabia from 1982 until his death on 1 August 2005, died after a long illness that had left half-brother Crown Prince Abdullah as de facto ruler for years. His reign saw the first Gulf War and rapid modernization alongside continued close ties with the United States. Abdullah succeeded him as king.
• 1922 – 2005 Barbara Bel Geddes (1922-2005) American actress, Broadway's first Maggie the Cat, Midge in Vertigo and Miss Ellie in Dallas.
• 1934 – 2005 Robert Moog (1934-2005) Died 21 August 2005, aged 71 Robert Moog, the engineer who invented the Moog synthesizer, died on 21 August 2005 of a brain tumor. His electronic instruments transformed popular music from the 1960s onward, used across genres from rock to electronic dance music. Moog founded Moog Music, which continued producing synthesizers after his death.
• 1938 – 2005 Peter Jennings (1938-2005) Died 7 August 2005, aged 67 Peter Jennings, the Canadian-born anchor of "ABC World News Tonight" for over two decades, died on 7 August 2005 of lung cancer, only months after announcing his diagnosis. He was one of the most recognizable figures in American television news, anchoring coverage of major world events including the September 11 attacks. Jennings had anchored the broadcast since 1983.
• 2005 Space Shuttle Discovery returns to flight NASA resumes shuttle missions after the Columbia disaster Space Shuttle Discovery launched on 26 July 2005 on mission STS-114, the first shuttle flight since the Columbia disaster more than two years earlier. The mission tested new safety procedures, including in-orbit repair techniques, and delivered supplies to the International Space Station. Discovery landed safely on 9 August 2005.
• 2005 US Open 2005 Men: Roger Federer · Women: Kim Clijsters
• 2005 CAFTA-DR signed into US law Central America free trade agreement takes effect President George W. Bush signed the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement into US law on 2 August 2005, extending free trade to Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The agreement reduced tariffs and expanded market access between the signatory nations and the United States. It sparked protests in several Central American countries over its impact on local farmers.
• 2005 Returns to the French national team Zidane comes out of retirement to help France reach the 2006 World Cup On 3 August 2005, Zidane announced his return to the French national team, along with Makélélé and Thuram, after France's faltering 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign left the team in danger of missing the tournament. His return reinvigorated the squad, which won its remaining qualifiers to secure a place in Germany. The comeback set up one final World Cup run for the aging playmaker.
• 2005 Barbara Bel Geddes dies in Northeast Harbor Barbara Bel Geddes dies aged 82.
• 2005 Israeli disengagement from Gaza Israel withdraws settlers and troops from the Gaza Strip Israel evacuated all of its settlers and military forces from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements between August and September 2005, ending a 38-year occupation of the territory. The unilateral withdrawal, ordered by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, was completed on 12 September 2005. It remained one of the most significant shifts in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict of the decade.
• 2005 Hurricane Katrina 1,800 killed, New Orleans devastated Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, causing catastrophic flooding in New Orleans when levees failed. 1,836 people died and damage exceeded $125 billion.