2004 Explained
2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations,[1] and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO).[2]
Culture
Media
See main article: 2004 in film and 2004 in video games. 2004 was a year marked by many popular and highly grossing film releases such as Shrek 2, Spider Man 2, The Incredibles, The Passion of the Christ and Howl's Moving Castle. 2004 was also the year where Toho Studios would release Godzilla's 50th anniversary movie, , the last Japanese Godzilla movie until Shin Godzilla in 2016.
The gaming industry would see the release of many FPS and sequel games in 2004, with some of the most famous being [3] Halo 2,[4] ,[5] ,[6] and Half Life 2.[7] These titles are considered some of the greatest video games of all time.[8] [9] [10] The Nintendo DS also released this year, which grew to become the best-selling handheld console of all time.
Events
January
February
March
- March 2 - A series of bombings occur in Karbala, Iraq, killing over 140 Shia Muslims commemorating the Day of Ashura.[19]
- March 7 - The 2004 Greek legislative election is held to elect all 300 members of the Hellenic Parliament and the New Democracy party, led by Kostas Karamanlis, won 165 out of 300 seats, ending over 11 years of rule by the PASOK party.[20]
- March 11 - Al-Qaeda bombings on Cercanías trains in Madrid, Spain, kill at least 192 people.[21] [22]
- March 14 - The PSOE wins the election in Spain; José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is elected Prime Minister of Spain, replacing José María Aznar.[23]
- March 28 - Hurricane Catarina, the first ever recorded South Atlantic hurricane, makes landfall in Santa Catarina, Brazil.[24]
- March 29 - Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia are admitted to NATO, the largest expansion of the organization.[25]
April
May
June
- June 1 - A United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti begins, the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).
- June 4 - Marvin Heemeyer takes his modified and armoured Komatsu D355A bulldozer (killdozer) on a rampage through the town of Granby, Colorado, causing approximately 7 million dollars worth of damage.[31]
- June 8 - 2004 transit of Venus.[32]
- June 12–July 4 - Portugal hosts the UEFA Euro 2004 football tournament, which is won by Greece.
- June 21 - In Mojave, California, United States, SpaceShipOne becomes the first privately funded spaceplane to achieve spaceflight.[33]
- June 28 - The U.S.-led coalition occupying Iraq, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), transfers sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government.[34]
- June 30 - Preliminary hearings begin in Iraq in the trial of president Saddam Hussein, for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
July
August
- August 1 - A fire in the "Ycua Bolaños-Botánico" supermarket in Asunción, Paraguay kills around 400 people.[37]
- August 3 - NASA's unpiloted MESSENGER spacecraft is launched, with its primary mission being the study of Mercury.[38]
- August 12 - Lee Hsien Loong is sworn in as the third Prime Minister of Singapore.[39]
- August 13–29 - The 2004 Summer Olympics are held in Athens, Greece.[40]
- August 22 - Armed robbers steal Edvard Munch's The Scream, Madonna, and other paintings from the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway.[41]
- August 24 - After departing Domodedovo International Airport in Moscow, Volga-AviaExpress Flight 1303, a Tupolev Tu-134, explodes over Russia's Tula Oblast and crashes, killing all 43 people on board; minutes later, Siberia Airlines Flight 1047, a Tupolev Tu-154 departing the same airport, explodes over Rostov Oblast and crashes, killing all 46 on board. The Government of Russia declares the explosions to have been caused by female Chechen suicide bombers.
September
October
- October 8 - Suicide bombers detonate two bombs at the Red Sea resort of Taba, Egypt, killing 34 people and injuring 171, mostly Israeli tourists.[44]
- October 9 - 2004 Australian federal election: John Howard's Liberal/National Coalition government is re-elected with an increased majority, defeating the Labor Party led by Mark Latham.[45]
- October 17 - Parque Central Complex fire: A fire that lasted over 15 hours destroyed almost one third of the East Tower of the Parque Central Urban Complex in Caracas, Venezuela.[46]
- October 19 - A team of explorers reach the bottom of Krubera Cave, the world's deepest cave, with a depth of 2,080 meters (6,824 feet).[47]
- October 20 - Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is sworn in as the 6th President of Indonesia, becoming the first directly elected president in Indonesia.[48]
- October 27 - The Boston Red Sox win the World Series for the sixth time after completing a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals. It was their first championship since 1918.
- October 29 - European heads of state sign in Rome the Treaty and Final Act, establishing the first European Constitution.[49]
November
December
- December 14 - The world's tallest bridge, the Millau Viaduct over the Tarn in the Massif Central mountains, France, is officially opened.[57]
- December 21 - Iraqi insurgents attack a U.S. military base in the city of Mosul, killing 22 people.[58]
- December 23 - The Second Battle of Fallujah ends.
- December 26 - The 9.1–9.3 Indian Ocean earthquake shakes northern Sumatra with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). One of the largest observed tsunamis follows, affecting coastal areas of Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Somalia, the Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, killing 227,000 people.[59]
- December 27 - Astrophysicists from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching near Munich measure the strongest burst from a magnetar. At 21:30:26 UT Earth is hit by a huge wave front of gamma and X-rays. It is the strongest flux of high-energetic gamma radiation measured so far.[60]
- December 30 – A fire in the República Cromañón nightclub in Buenos Aires, Argentina kills 194.[61]
- December 31 - Taipei 101, at the time the tallest skyscraper in the world, standing at a height of 1670feet, officially opens.[62]
Date unknown
Nobel Prizes
Notes and References
- Web site: UN declares 2004 the International Year of Rice. October 31, 2003. January 16, 2022. January 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220116205241/https://news.un.org/en/story/2003/10/84272-un-declares-2004-international-year-rice. live.
- https://en.unesco.org/ United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
- Web site: Rob . Fahey . 2004-03-01 . Rockstar announces Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for October '04 . 2023-08-17 . GamesIndustry.biz . en . August 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230817074031/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/rockstar-announces-grand-theft-auto-san-andreas-for-october-04 . live .
- Web site: Halo 2 prepares to storm retail shelves - Nov. 12, 2004 . 2023-08-17 . money.cnn.com . August 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230817074031/https://money.cnn.com/2004/11/08/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/ . live .
- Web site: Rob . Fahey . 2004-02-09 . Nintendo hints at 2004 launch for Metroid Prime 2 . 2023-08-17 . GamesIndustry.biz . en . August 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230817074031/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/nintendo-hints-at-2004-launch-for-metroid-prime-2 . live .
- Web site: Oxford . Nadia . July 9, 2020 . Paper Mario: The Origami King Isn't the Thousand Year Door, Nor Does It Want to Be . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210209022706/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/paper-mario-the-origami-king-review-impressions . February 9, 2021 . February 9, 2021 . USGamer.
- Web site: Dransfield . Ian . 2004-10-18 . Half Life 2 Gold: 2004 release . 2023-08-17 . VideoGamer.com . en-US . August 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230817074032/https://www.videogamer.com/news/half-life-2-gold-2004-release/ . live .
- Web site: International Video Game Hall of Fame Website . 2023-08-17 . www.ivghof.info . en-US . August 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230817074033/http://www.ivghof.info/ . live .
- Web site: Most Influential Games Of The 21st Century: Half-Life 2 . 2023-08-17 . GameSpot . en-US . January 16, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210116123449/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/most-influential-games-of-the-21st-century-half-li/1100-6466992/ . live .
- Web site: 2023-05-10 . The 100 greatest video games of all time, ranked by experts . 2023-08-17 . British GQ . en-GB . May 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230510142624/https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/best-video-games-all-time . live .
- News: Egypt plane crash claims 148 lives. 2004-01-03. BBC News. 2017-01-25. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118051755/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3365721.stm. live.
- Web site: Spirit Rover Bounces Down on Mars. NASA. January 7, 2022. March 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220325023042/https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap040104.html. live.
- Web site: The Cunard Liner Queen Mary 2. Queen Mary 2. January 7, 2022. May 5, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210505212413/https://www.qm2.org.uk/history.html. live.
- Web site: NASA Hears From Opportunity Rover On Mars. NASA. January 7, 2022. November 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211120233737/https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/newsroom/pressreleases/20040125a.html. live.
- Web site: [Review] MyDoom Virus: The Most Destructive & Fastest Email Worm [MiniTool Tips] ]. MiniTool . March 3, 2021 . Helen . December 16, 2022 . December 16, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221216143453/https://www.minitool.com/backup-tips/mydoom-virus.html . live .
- News: Hundreds Register for New Facebook Website. 2004-02-09. The Harvard Crimson. Alan J. Tabak. 2022-02-04. May 18, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190518221416/https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2004/2/9/hundreds-register-for-new-facebook-website/. live.
- News: Macedonian president killed in plane crash. Jeffery. Simon. 2004-02-26. agencies. The Guardian. en-GB. 0261-3077. 2017-01-26. November 19, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201119083904/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/feb/26/balkans. live.
- News: Embattled Aristide quits Haiti. 2004-02-29. BBC News. 2017-01-26. May 6, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210506074430/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3519821.stm. live.
- News: Blasts at Shiite Ceremonies in Iraq Kill More Than 140. Burns. John F.. 2004-03-02. Gettleman. Jeffrey. The New York Times. 0362-4331. 2017-01-26. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118122412/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/02/international/middleeast/blasts-at-shiite-ceremonies-in-iraq-kill-more-than.html. live.
- Web site: 2012-07-22 . Υπουργείο Εσωτερικών - Αποτελέσματα ΕΘΝΙΚΩΝ Εκλογών 2004 . 2022-03-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120722093442/http://www.ypes.gr/el/Elections/NationalElections/Results/nationallectures2004/ . 22 July 2012 . dead.
- Web site: elmundo.es. Documento: Auto del 11-M. www.elmundo.es. February 24, 2021. April 12, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060412150158/https://www.elmundo.es/documentos/2006/04/11/auto_11m.html. live.
- https://web.archive.org/web/20150315034747/http://www.zoomnews.es/499926/actualidad/espana/pilar-manjon-lamenta-ostracismo-las-victimas-once-anos-despues-del-11-m ZoomNews (in spanish)
- News: 15 March 2004 . Zapatero vence con casi 11 millones de votos . es . El País . 27 February 2020 . May 19, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200519031103/https://elpais.com/diario/2004/03/15/espana/1079305201_850215.html . live .
- Web site: First South Atlantic hurricane hits Brazil. 2004-01-29. USA Today. 2017-01-26. July 1, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170701090923/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/weather/news/2004-03-28-brazil-storm_x.htm. dead.
- News: Seven join Nato in biggest expansion. Press Association. 2004-04-02. The Guardian. en-GB. 0261-3077. 2017-01-26. February 2, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170202122647/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/apr/02/nato. live.
- News: Hamas leader killed in Israeli airstrike. 2004-04-17. CNN. 2017-01-26. February 7, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170207074455/http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/04/17/mideast.violence/. live.
- News: Greek Cypriots Reject a U.N. Peace Plan. Sachs. Susan. 2004-04-25. The New York Times. 0362-4331. 2017-01-26. December 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201218134934/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/25/world/greek-cypriots-reject-a-un-peace-plan.html. live.
- News: EU welcomes 10 new members. 2004-05-01. CNN. 2017-01-26. February 24, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170224141614/http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/04/30/eu.enlargement/. live.
- News: Chechen president is killed in bombing at holiday. 2004-05-09. New York Times. 2023-02-02. January 27, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230127172816/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/09/international/europe/chechen-president-is-killed-in-bombing-at-holiday.html. live.
- News: Ukraine celebrates Eurovision win. BBC. 2004-05-16. January 8, 2022. May 30, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080530110144/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3715907.stm. live.
- Web site: Marvin Heemeyer Wanted Revenge — So He Built A 'Killdozer' . February 8, 2022 .
- Web site: The Venus Transit 2004. ESO. January 8, 2022. January 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220108191713/https://www.eso.org/public/outreach/eduoff/vt-2004/vt-intro.html. live.
- SpaceShipOne Reaches Space. Long. Tony. 2004-06-21. Wired. 2017-01-26. November 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201127152420/https://www.wired.com/2011/06/0621spaceshipone-first-private-spacecraft/. live.
- News: US hands over power in Iraq. 2004-06-28. The Guardian. en-GB. 0261-3077. 2017-01-26. February 2, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170202122301/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jun/28/iraq.iraq1. live.
- News: Cassini probe enters Rhea orbit. 2004-07-01. BBC News. 2017-01-26. November 19, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201119101439/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3846195.stm. live.
- Web site: Some Russians still live in the USSR - PravdaReport . English.pravda.ru . July 6, 2011 . November 25, 2015 . February 27, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150227141904/http://english.pravda.ru/society/stories/06-07-2011/118409-soviet_passport-0/ . live .
- News: 6 Are Charged With Murder After Paraguay Store Fire (Published 2004). Todd. Benson. The New York Times. August 4, 2004. March 23, 2019. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118204907/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/04/world/6-are-charged-with-murder-after-paraguay-store-fire.html. live.
- News: NASA Sends Mercury a MESSENGER. Malik. Tariq. 2004-08-03. Space.com. 2017-01-26. February 2, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170202030834/http://www.space.com/210-nasa-sends-mercury-messenger.html. live.
- Web site: Let us shape our future together . The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB) . 12 February 2020 . 13 August 2004 . December 9, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181209074258/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes20040813-1.2.2 . live .
- News: Olympics open in Athens. 2004-08-13. BBC News. 2017-01-26. July 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200724140701/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/3557922.stm. live.
- News: Armed robbers steal 'The Scream'. 2004-08-23. CNN. 2017-01-26. September 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220920195252/http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/08/22/scream.theft/. live.
- https://web.archive.org/web/20090404112922/http://www.unicef.org/russia/media_4875.html 31 August 2006: Beslan – Two Years On
- News: Australian embassy bomb kills nine. 2004-09-09. The Guardian. 2020-06-22. November 17, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201117102334/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/sep/09/indonesia.australia1. live.
- News: Dozens killed in bomb blasts at Sinai resorts. Urquhart. Conal. 2004-10-08. The Guardian. 2017-02-07. en-GB. 0261-3077. February 3, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170203201509/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/oct/08/israel.travelnews. live.
- Web site: 2004 Federal Election | AustralianPolitics.com. australianpolitics.com. February 24, 2021. November 26, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161126232837/https://australianpolitics.com/elections/federal-2004. live.
- Web site: 16 October 2012. Torre Este de Parque Central: 8 años después. El Universal. July 9, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230709194415/https://www.eluniversal.com/caracas/121016/torre-este-de-parque-central-8-anos-despues. live.
- News: Cavers smash world depth record. 2005-04-22. BBC News. 2017-02-07. November 17, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201117085920/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4472585.stm. live.
- News: Indonesian President Is Sworn In, Promising a Cleaner Government. 2004-10-21. New York Times. 2019-04-18. November 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201118235511/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/21/world/asia/indonesian-president-is-sworn-in-promising-a-cleaner-government.html. live.
- Web site: SCADPlus: A Constitution for Europe. Europa. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20170104031911/http://europa.eu/scadplus/constitution/introduction_en.htm. January 4, 2017. dead. 2017-02-07.
- News: SMART-1 Space Probe Slams into the Moon. Leonard. David. 2006-09-03. Space. 2017-02-07. February 3, 2013. https://archive.today/20130203031317/http://www.space.com/2839-smart-1-space-probe-slams-moon.html. live.
- Web site: Gibbs . Yvonne . 2017-05-10 . X-43A Hyper-X . 2022-07-28 . NASA . en . May 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220520121422/https://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/history/pastprojects/HyperX/index.html . live .
- Web site: NASA - NASA's X-43A Scramjet Breaks Speed Record . 2023-02-03 . www.nasa.gov . en . October 31, 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20041031052522/https://www.nasa.gov/missions/research/x43_schedule.html . dead .
- Web site: NASA scramjet smashes speed record . 2023-02-03 . New Scientist . en-US . February 3, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230203125551/https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn6686-nasa-scramjet-smashes-speed-record/ . live .
- News: Ukraine's 'Orange Revolution'. Schneider. William. The Atlantic. en-US. 2017-01-26. December 6, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131206135055/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2004/12/ukraines-orange-revolution/305157/. live.
- Web site: Runway excursion Accident McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82) PK-LMN . 2024-05-29 . aviation-safety.net.
- Web site: Lion Air PK-LMN . 29 May 2024.
- News: France shows off tallest bridge. 2004-12-14. BBC News. 2017-01-26. May 6, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120506104059/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4091813.stm. live.
- News: Deadly Attack on U.S. Military Base. 2004-12-22. Fox News. en-US. 2017-01-26. February 2, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170202100055/http://www.foxnews.com/story/2004/12/22/deadly-attack-on-us-military-base.html. live.
- News: Indian Ocean tsunami anniversary: Memorial events held. 2014-12-26. BBC News. en-GB. 2017-01-26. November 12, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161112195108/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30602159. live.
- Web site: Starquake Reveals Hidden Structure of a Neutron Star . 2022-09-08 . phys.org . en . September 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220908155938/https://phys.org/news/2006-04-starquake-reveals-hidden-neutron-star.html . live .
- News: Associated Press . 2011-04-21 . Argentina: 7 Members of Band Convicted in Club Fire . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-07-28 . 0362-4331 . April 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230429070338/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/21/world/americas/21briefs-7MEMBERSOFBA_BRF.html . live .
- News: World's tallest building opens. 2004-12-31. BBC News. 2017-01-26. November 17, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201117205156/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3269477.stm. live.
- Web site: The Metrocable: transport by urban cable car in Medellín . 2022-09-08 . Centre For Public Impact (CPI) . September 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220908160059/https://www.centreforpublicimpact.org/case-study/urban-cable-car-medillincolombia . live .