View source for 2004

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{{Events by month|2004|prefix=Portal:Current events/}}
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*[[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|A tsunami]], caused by a massive 9.1-9.3 earthquake off the coast of [[Sumatra]], kills over 227,000 people, making it one of the [[List of natural disasters by death toll|worst natural disasters]] in recorded history.
*[[Facebook]], originally called ''TheFacebook'', is launched by [[Mark Zuckerberg]].
*[[NASA]] lands the [[Opportunity (rover)|''Opportunity'']] and [[Spirit (rover)|''Spirit'']] [[Mars Exploration Rover|rovers]] on [[Mars]].
*The [[2004 Summer Olympics]] are held in [[Athens]].
*Multiple trains were  [[2004 Madrid train bombings|bombed]] by [[Al-Qaeda]] in [[Madrid]], killing 193 people. 
*The [[European Union]] [[2004 enlargement of the European Union|adds]] 10 new member-states.
*The [[Nintendo DS]], the second best-selling handheld game console, is released.
*334 people are killed in the [[Beslan school siege]], carried out by [[Chechnya|Chechen]] terrorists.
*The [[2004 transit of Venus]], the first such occurrence since [[1882]].
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{{Year nav|2004}}
{{Year in various calendars|year=2004}}
{{C21 year in topic}}{{Year article header|2004}}

Global politics was focused on the [[Occupation of Iraq (2003–2011)|American occupation of Iraq]] and the [[Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)|Iraqi insurgency]]. The United States transferred control to the [[Iraqi Interim Government]], and former ruler [[Saddam Hussein]] was put on trial for crimes against humanity. American involvement became more controversial as it was revealed that American soldiers were [[Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse|committing acts of torture]] against Iraqi prisoners and doubts grew about whether American claims of an Iraqi weapons of mass destruction program were accurate. Afghanistan held [[2004 Afghan presidential election|its first presidential election]], which was won by [[Hamid Karzai]]. President [[Jean-Bertrand Aristide]] of Haiti was overthrown in [[2004 Haitian coup d'état|a coup]], and President [[Yasser Arafat]] of Palestine died in office. The [[International Criminal Court]] commenced operations and opened its first two investigations. [[NATO]] grew by seven members in 2004 and the [[European Union]] grew by ten.

The economy grew steadily in 2004, especially in the developing world, and the developed world tightened [[monetary policy]] and raised [[interest rate]]s. The [[United States dollar]] depreciated throughout the year. The nuclear weapons programs of Iran and North Korea saw renewed attention, especially after [[Ryanggang explosion|a suspected weapons test]] in North Korea. [[Gay rights]] remained a major issue among [[Protestant]] denominations, while [[Islam]] wrestled with the violence of [[Islamism]]. [[Global spread of H5N1 in 2004|The spread]] of [[Influenza A virus subtype H5N1|H5N1 avian influenza]] led to fears of a pandemic, but the total number of cases remained small.

Russia's ''[[Soyuz (spacecraft)|Soyuz]]'' program was the only crewed space program in 2004, but NASA's ''[[Spirit (rover)|Spirit]]'' and ''[[Opportunity (rover)|Opportunity]]'' rovers landed on Mars in January. [[Stem cell controversy|The debate]] over [[stem cell]] usage remained a major controversy in science. A new prehistoric human species, ''[[homo floresiensis]]'', was discovered in 2004. The year's most destructive tropical storms included [[Hurricane Jeanne]], [[Typhoon Rananim]], [[Typhoon Muifa (2004)|Typhoon Muifa]] and [[Typhoon Nanmadol (2004)|Typhoon Nanmadol]]. The final days of 2004 were defined by [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|a magnitude 9.1 earthquake]] that struck Indonesia and affected countries across the Indian Ocean, killing approximately 230,000 people.

The [[2004 Summer Olympics]] were held in their birthplace of [[Athens]], Greece, where the United States won the most gold medals. ''[[Shrek 2]]'' was the highest grossing film of the year and ''[[Confessions (Usher album)|Confessions]]'' by [[Usher (musician)|Usher]] was the best-selling album. Tech releases in 2004 included the [[Nintendo DS]] handheld game console by [[Nintendo]] and the [[Firefox]] browser by [[Mozilla]].

== Population ==
The [[world population]] on January 1, 2004, was estimated to be 6.462&nbsp;billion people and increased to 6.545&nbsp;billion people by January 1, 2005.{{Sfn|UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs|2024}} An estimated 136.6&nbsp;million births and 53.2&nbsp;million deaths took place in 2004.{{Sfn|UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs|2024}} The average global [[life expectancy]] was 67.7 years, an increase of 0.3 years from 2003.{{Sfn|UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs|2024}} The estimated number of global refugees decreased from 9.59&nbsp;million to 9.24&nbsp;million by the end of the year.{{Sfn|UN High Commissioner for Refugees|2005|p=2}} Afghanistan was the largest source of refugees, with approximately 2.1&nbsp;million people.{{Sfn|UN High Commissioner for Refugees|2005|p=3}}

== Conflicts ==
{{Main category|Conflicts in 2004}}
[[File:C-52 Patrols with ING, 2004.JPG|thumb|The US Army and the Iraqi National Guard]]
There were 32 armed conflicts in 2004 that resulted in at least 25 fatalities, all of which involved [[violent non-state actor]]s.{{Sfn|Harbom|Wallensteen|2005|p=623}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Harbom |first1=Lotta |last2=Högbladh |first2=Stina |last3=Wallensteen |first3=Peter |date=2006 |title=Armed Conflict and Peace Agreements |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/27640387 |journal=[[Journal of Peace Research]] |volume=43 |issue=5 |pages=617–631 |doi=10.1177/0022343306067613 |jstor=27640387 |issn=0022-3433}}</ref><!-- 2006 source contains a correction to the 2005 source, changing the number from 30 to 32. --> Seven of these resulted in at least 1,000 fatalities: the [[Colombian conflict]], the [[Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)|Iraqi insurgency]], the [[Kashmir insurgency]], the [[Nepalese Civil War]], the [[Second Chechen War]] in Russia, the [[Second Sudanese Civil War]], the Sudanese [[War in Darfur]], and the [[Lord's Resistance Army insurgency (2002–2005)|Lord's Resistance Army insurgency]] in Uganda.{{Sfn|Harbom|Wallensteen|2005|pp=631–634}}

The Iraqi insurgency emerged in Iraq in 2004 and carried out attacks against [[Iraqi Interim Government|the US-backed caretaker government]].{{Sfn|Harbom|Wallensteen|2005|p=625}} It was initially confined to the [[Sunni Triangle]] but expanded to other areas throughout the year with [[2004 Erbil bombings|two suicide bombings]] in [[Iraqi Kurdistan]] on February 1 and [[2004 Iraq spring fighting|a conflict]] with the Shia [[Mahdi Army]] in April.{{Sfn|Dwan|Holmqvist|2005|pp=112–113}} [[Second Battle of Fallujah|More intense fighting]] took place in the city of [[Fallujah]] toward the end of the year,{{Sfn|VOA|2004}} resulting in the deaths of 51 Americans and about 1,200 insurgents.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=248}} Several countries withdrew from Iraq as the war became increasingly unpopular.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=248}} Conflicts with [[al-Qaeda]] continued in 2004, primarily [[Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa|in Pakistan]] along the [[Afghanistan–Pakistan border]].{{Sfn|Harbom|Wallensteen|2005|pp=625–626}} A group affiliated with al-Qaeda carried out [[2004 Madrid train bombings|a series of train bombings]] in Madrid, killing approximately 200 people in March.{{Sfn|VOA|2004}}

The Second Chechen War continued in 2004 with [[2004 Grozny stadium bombing|a bombing]] that killed Russian-backed Chechen president [[Akhmad Kadyrov]],{{Sfn|Dwan|Holmqvist|2005|p=107}} [[2004 Russian aircraft bombings|two airliner bombings]] that killed 89,{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=209}} and [[Beslan school siege|the capture of a school]] in [[Beslan]], Russia, by Chechen militants that resulted in over 300 fatalities in September.{{Sfn|VOA|2004}}{{Sfn|Time|2005|pp=72–73}} The frozen conflict between Georgia and the breakaway state of South Ossetia [[2004 South Ossetia clashes|escalated in July and August]] until a ceasefire was signed on August 18.{{Sfn|Harbom|Wallensteen|2005|p=626}}

Two major rebel groups acted for the first time in 2004: the [[National Revolutionary Front for the Liberation and Reconstruction of Haiti]] successfully brought about [[2004 Haitian coup d'état|the resignation]] of President [[Jean-Bertrand Aristide]], while the [[Islamic Jihad Union]] was defeated in its attempt to overthrow the government of Uzbekistan.{{Sfn|Harbom|Wallensteen|2005|p=625}} The Haitian conflict led to the [[MINUSTAH]] UN peacekeeping mission.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=249}}

Other major conflicts in 2004 included [[2004 unrest in Kosovo|ethnic conflict in Kosovo]] that led to 19 fatalities,{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=249}} [[2003–2004 Indonesian offensive in Aceh|an ongoing Indonesian offensive]] against rebels in Aceh,{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=249}} [[Southern Thailand insurgency|an Islamist insurgency]] in Thailand that led to martial law in the southern region,{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=249}} an Islamic militant uprising in northern Nigeria.{{Sfn|Harbom|Wallensteen|2005|p=625}} The [[Burundian Civil War]] was complicated as factionalism divided the [[CNDD-FDD]] and tentative peace agreements with the government were opposed by the [[National Forces of Liberation]].{{Sfn|Dwan|Holmqvist|2005|p=91}} The Nepalese Civil War escalated as the [[Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre)|Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)]] abducted over one thousand people to train as fighters and the Nepalese government established civilian militias.{{Sfn|Dwan|Holmqvist|2005|p=99}} Conflict between Israel and Palestine [[Second Intifada|remained heightened]] in 2004, including the targeted killings of Hamas leaders [[Ahmed Yassin]] and [[Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi]] by Israel, [[2004 Sinai bombings|the bombing]] of Israeli tourists by Palestinian militants in October,{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=3}} and [[2004 Israeli operation in the northern Gaza Strip|Israeli attacks]] on Gaza.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=249}} The [[European Union]] launched [[EUFOR]], its largest peacekeeping mission, in Bosnia and Herzegovina.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=249}} The War in Darfur escalated significantly in Sudan with debate over whether [[Darfur genocide (2003–2005)|its mass killings]] constituted a genocide.{{Sfn|Dwan|Holmqvist|2005|p=93}}{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=442}}{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=208}}

Two major peace agreements were made in 2004: one between Senegal and the [[Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance]], and one between Sudan and the [[Sudan People's Liberation Movement]].{{Sfn|Harbom|Wallensteen|2005|p=627}} A ceasefire was established with the [[Lord's Resistance Army]] in Uganda,{{Sfn|Dwan|Holmqvist|2005|p=101}} while a ceasefire in the [[First Ivorian Civil War]] broke down and attacks were launched against French peacekeeping forces.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=252}} A 2003 ceasefire held in the [[Kashmir conflict]], bringing about the conflict's first full year without military action in roughly a decade, although an insurgency continued in the region.{{Sfn|Harbom|Wallensteen|2005|p=626}} Although the [[Second Congo War]] had ended, insurgencies continued within the Democratic Republic of the Congo [[Ituri conflict|in Ituri]] and [[Kivu conflict|in Kivu]].{{Sfn|Dwan|Holmqvist|2005|p=105}} Disarmament of the [[United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia]] began in November during the Colombian conflict, but fighting with the [[Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia]] continued and the Colombian government launched its [[Plan Patriota]] mobilization program.{{Sfn|Dwan|Holmqvist|2005|pp=92–93}}

== Culture ==

=== Architecture ===
{{Main|2004 in architecture}}

[[File:Exterior of the Seattle Central Library.jpg|thumb|The [[Seattle Central Library]] opened in 2004.]]
The world's largest architectural design competition was held to design the [[National September 11 Memorial & Museum]] with over 5,000 entries.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=154}} The German [[Duchess Anna Amalia Library]] was destroyed in a fire that consumed approximately 30,000 books.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=479}} Reconstruction finished on the exterior of the [[Frauenkirche, Dresden|Frauenkirche]] church in Dresden, which had been destroyed in World War II.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=480}} After three years at a temporary location, the [[Museum of Modern Art]] relocated to a new building designed by [[Yoshio Taniguchi]].{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=156}}  The [[Pritzker Architecture Prize]] was won by a woman, [[Zaha Hadid]], for the first time.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=152}}

Buildings that finished construction or opened in 2004 included [[the Gherkin]] and the [[Scottish Parliament Building]] in the United Kingdom, the [[Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina]] in Italy, the {{Interlanguage link|Sharp Centre for Design|fr}} in Canada, the [[Forum Building]] in Spain,{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|pp=152–153}} and the [[Seattle Central Library]] in the United States.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=212}} The [[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]] opened in China along with terminals in the [[Toronto Pearson International Airport]] in Canada and [[Ben Gurion Airport]] in Israel. The [[Rio–Antirrio Bridge]] was completed in Greece, as was the [[Millau Viaduct]] in France. Among new rail stations were the [[Blue Line (Bangkok)|Blue Line]] in Thailand, the [[Hiawatha Light Rail]] and the [[Las Vegas Monorail]] in the United States, the [[Yellow Line (Delhi Metro)|Yellow Line]] in India, and the [[Shenzhen Metro]] in China. The [[Södra länken]] motorway in Sweden and the final stage of the [[Trans-Siberian Railway]] in Russia were also completed.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=155}}

=== Art ===
{{Main|2004 in art}}

[[File:Edvard Munch, 1893, The Scream, oil, tempera and pastel on cardboard, 91 x 73 cm, National Gallery of Norway.jpg|thumb|upright|One of [[Edvard Munch]]'s ''[[The Scream]]'' paintings was stolen in 2004.]]
Major art trends in 2004 included [[Minimalism (visual arts)|minimalism]],{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=157}} [[Gothic art]] and [[grotesque|grotesque art]], the latter two making up what art critic [[Jerry Saltz]] called the "Modern Gothic".{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=156}} Paper [[drawing]]s also saw popularity.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|pp=156, 159}} In photography, there was nostalgia for works from the 1970s.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=160}} Art [[speculation]] resurged in 2004 as the economy recovered from [[Early 2000s recession|a recession]]. Major sales included ''[[Garçon à la pipe]]'' (1905) by [[Pablo Picasso]] for approximately $100 million, the [[Maurizio Cattelan]] sculptures ''[[La Nona Ora]]'' (1999) and ''[[The Ballad of Trotsky]]'' (1996) for $3 million and $2 million,{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=481}} and [[Richard Prince]]'s photo ''[[Spiritual America]]'' for $1 million.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|pp=156–157}} Western fashion trends shifted from luxury designs to practical ones in 2004, and American-made [[jeans]] grew in popularity.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=197}}

The biggest art exhibitions of 2004 were ''Treasures of a Sacred Mountain'' at the [[Tokyo National Museum]] and ''El Greco'' at the [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]].{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=481}} Elsewhere, the [[Friedrich Christian Flick Collection]] was put on display in Berlin,{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=480}} the [[Smithsonian Institution]] opened its [[National Museum of the American Indian]] on the [[National Mall]] in [[Washington, D.C.]], and Prince [[Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein|Hans-Adam II]] of Liechtenstein opened a museum in Vienna to display the royal family's art collection.{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=94}}

''[[The Scream]]'' and ''[[Madonna (Munch)|Madonna]]'' were stolen from the [[Munch Museum]] in Oslo in 2004, while efforts continued throughout the year to recover and preserve works from the [[Iraq Museum]] in response to [[Archaeological looting in Iraq|the looting]] that took place amid the invasion of Iraq.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=479}} About 300 artworks with a total value of $106 million were destroyed by a fire at a [[Momart]] warehouse in London, about one third of which were from the collection of [[Charles Saatchi]], including the sculptures ''[[Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 1963–1995]]'' by [[Tracey Emin]] and ''Hell'' by [[Jake and Dinos Chapman]].{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=157}}

Photographs of subjects related to the [[Iraq War]], including [[Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse|act of torture]] by the American military and coffins of American soldiers being stored in a [[cargo plane]], caused public outrage. Art critic [[Susan Sontag]] cited this as evidence that photography had moved from an art of preservation to one of disseminating ideas and shaping public opinion.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=159}}

=== Media ===
{{Main|2004 in film|2004 in music|2004 in video games}}

[[File:Nintendo-DS-Fat-Blue.png|thumb|The [[Nintendo DS]] was released in 2004.]]
The highest-grossing film globally in 2004 was ''[[Shrek 2]]'', followed by ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'' and ''[[Spider-Man 2]]''. The highest-grossing non-English film was ''[[The Passion of the Christ]]'', the fifth highest-grossing film of the year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2004 Worldwide Box Office |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/world/2004/ |website=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> Critically acclaimed films from 2004 include ''[[Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind]]'',<ref name="Scott 2004">{{Cite news |last=Scott |first=A. O. |date=December 26, 2004 |title=The Fight Picture Fights Back |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/26/movies/the-fight-picture-fights-back.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907172310/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/26/movies/the-fight-picture-fights-back.html |archive-date=September 7, 2015}}</ref><ref name="AV Club 2024">{{Cite web |title=The best movies of 2004 |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-best-movies-of-2004 |website=AV Club}}</ref><ref name="Collider 2023">{{Cite web |last=Weinert |first=Ty |date=May 29, 2023 |title=10 Best Movies of 2004, Ranked |url=https://collider.com/best-movies-2004-ranked/ |website=Collider}}</ref><ref name="Playlist 2015">{{Cite web |date=January 23, 2015 |title=The 10 Best Films Of 2004 |url=https://theplaylist.net/the-10-best-films-of-2004-20150123/ |website=The Playlist}}</ref> ''[[Kill Bill: Volume 2]]'',<ref name="AV Club 2024" /><ref name="Collider 2023" /><ref name="Playlist 2015" /><ref name="Ebert 2012">{{Cite web |last=Ebert |first=Robert |date=December 19, 2012 |title=The Best Films of 2004 |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/roger-ebert/the-best-films-of-2004 |website=RogerEbert.com}}</ref> and ''[[Million Dollar Baby]]''<ref name="Scott 2004" /><ref name="AV Club 2024" /><ref name="Collider 2023" /><ref name="Ebert 2012" /> Documentaries had a successful year in 2004 with releases like ''[[Fahrenheit 9/11]]'' by [[Michael Moore]] and ''[[Super Size Me]]'' by [[Morgan Spurlock]].{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|pp=472–473}}{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=264}}

Music sales in 2004 amounted to about 2.75 billion physical units, stalling the decline of units in previous years. [[Compact disc|CD]] albums made up 86% of sales, but [[DVD]] and digital music continued an upward trajectory.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=March 9, 2005 |title=IFPI: 2004 Global Music Biz Flat |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/ifpi-2004-global-music-biz-flat-1415020/ |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> The best-selling album globally in 2004 was ''[[Confessions (Usher album)|Confessions]]'' by [[Usher (musician)|Usher]], followed by ''[[Feels like Home (Norah Jones album)|Feels like Home]]'' by [[Norah Jones]] and ''[[Encore (Eminem album)|Encore]]'' by [[Eminem]]. The best-selling non-English album was the Japanese album ''[[Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 1]]'' by [[Hikaru Utada]], the 19th best-selling of the year.<ref name="ifpi">{{Cite web |title=2000-2005 Top 50 Albums [XLS] |url=https://www.ifpi.org/content/library/top-5-albums-2000-2005.xls |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323114337/http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/top-5-albums-2000-2005.xls |archive-date=2012-03-23 |website=[[IFPI]]}}</ref> Several pieces of classical music were performed for the first time in decades or centuries after rediscovery, including the medieval song "[[Fortuna desperata]]", the 1940 organ performance ''[[Voluntary on Tallis's Lamentations]]'', the 1910s opera ''[[Marie Victoire]]'', and the 1823 opera ''[[The Uncle From Boston]]''.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=253}} Courts in Canada and the United States issued rulings that affirmed the legality of [[peer-to-peer file sharing]] despite its frequent use for [[copyright infringement]].{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|pp=432–433}} Apple with its [[iPod]] and [[iTunes]] service was the predominant source of legally downloaded music.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=433}}

''[[The Da Vinci Code]]'' (2003) by [[Dan Brown]] was the best selling fiction book of 2004.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=483}} Several libraries lost preserved texts following attacks, including the [[Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute]] in India and the [[Islamia Higher Secondary School]] in Pakistan.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=212}} The American soap opera ''[[Desperate Housewives]]'' was a surprise hit and renewed interest in scripted television.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=241}} Plays that premiered in 2004 included ''[[Stuff Happens]]'' by [[David Hare (playwright)|David Hare]] and ''[[The History Boys]]'' by [[Alan Bennett]].{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|pp=468–469}} The global magazine industry strengthened in 2004 after three years of middling growth,{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=245}} though the ''[[World Press Review]]'' ended its print publication after a thirty-year run.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=246}} The March edition of the Russian-language ''[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]]'' reached over 600,000 sales in Europe, making it the continent's most widely circulated magazine.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=246}}

[[Nintendo]] released the [[Nintendo DS]] in 2004, a successor to its [[handheld game console]], the [[Game Boy]].{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=166}} Critically acclaimed video games from 2004 include ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]'', ''[[Half-Life 2]]'', and ''[[Halo 2]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oaks |first=Amanda Kay |date=July 9, 2025 |title=The 10 Best Games of 2004, According to Metacritic |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/best-video-games-2004/ |website=ComicBook.com}}</ref> ''[[Doom 3]]'' was among the most anticipated games of the year but proved critically unsuccessful.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=166}}

=== Sports ===
{{Main|2004 in sports}}

[[File:Olympic flame at opening ceremony 2004.jpg|thumb|The [[2004 Summer Olympics]] were held in [[Athens]], Greece.]]
The [[2004 Summer Olympics]] were held in their birthplace of [[Athens]].{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=104}} The United States had the most gold medals with 35, followed by China's 32 and Russia's 27. [[Irina Korzhanenko]] of Russia had her gold medal revoked after failing a drug test.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=489}}

[[Vitali Klitschko]] became the boxing world heavyweight champion in 2004 following the retirement of [[Lennox Lewis]].{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=492}} [[Maria Sharapova]] defeated champion player [[Serena Williams]] in the [[2004 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|Women's Wimbledon Championships]], becoming the first Russian to win a Wimbledon tournament.{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=123}} [[Roger Federer]] won three of the four major tennis tournaments in men's tennis.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=496}} Fijian golfer [[Vijay Singh]] became the world's highest-earning golfer, winning $10 million in 2004,{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=494}} and he unseated [[Tiger Woods]] as the top [[PGA Tour]] player in September after winning nine tournaments throughout the year.{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=116}} [[Michael Schumacher]] won his seventh victory with the [[2004 Formula One World Championship]],{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=495}} and [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]] won his second with the [[2004 World Snooker Championship]] in what was his second victory.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=497}} [[Best Mate]] became the fourth horse to win three [[Cheltenham Gold Cup]]s.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=494}}

In [[Major League Baseball]], the [[Boston Red Sox]] ended its 86-year losing streak by defeating the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] in the [[2004 World Series]].{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=115}}{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=497}} Japanese player [[Ichiro Suzuki]] of the [[Seattle Mariners]] broke the 84-year record of 257 hits in one season set by [[George Sisler]].{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=120}} In [[association football]], Greece won an upset victory over Portugal in the [[UEFA Euro 2004]], while [[FC Porto]] defeated [[AS Monaco FC]] in the [[2004 UEFA Champions League final]].{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=490}} The [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] won the [[2004 Stanley Cup Final]] in the [[National Hockey League]],{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=497}} and the [[2004–05 NHL season]] was canceled following [[2004–05 NHL lockout|an industry lockout]].{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=123}}

[[Steve Fossett]] and his crew beat the record for fastest [[circumnavigation]] by sailing, making the trip in 58 days, while [[Francis Joyon]] broke the solo record with 73 days.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=497}} [[Pete Cabrinha]] surfed on a {{Convert|70|ft|m|abbr=on}} wave in January, breaking the record for the tallest wave ever surfed.{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=123}}

[[Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy|Scandal occurred]] following [[Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show|the half-time show]] of [[Super Bowl XXXVIII]] where singer [[Janet Jackson]] had most of her breast exposed, and the rest of the year was marked by strict regulatory scrutiny of potential indecency on American television.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=240}} The [[BALCO scandal]] occurred in the United States after an investigation determined that the [[Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative]] was distributing [[performance-enhancing substance]]s to athletes.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=492}} Online [[fantasy sport]]s became more widely available when [[AOL]] launched a free fantasy sports service.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=162}}

== Economy ==
{{Main category|2004 in economic history}}
[[File:Google.png|thumb|[[Google]] was the dominant [[search engine]] in 2004 and made an [[initial public offering]] of $1.7 billion.]]
The economy in 2004 grew steadily without significant interruptions.{{Sfn|UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs|2005|p=1}} The [[gross world product]] grew by 4% in 2004, an increase from the 2.8% growth in 2003. The highest growth came from the developing world.{{Sfn|UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs|2005|p=iii}} International trade increased by over 10%.{{Sfn|UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs|2005|p=3}} Governments in the developed world tightened [[monetary policy]] and [[central bank]]s raised their [[interest rate]]s,{{Sfn|UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs|2005|p=5}} in contrast with expectations set at the beginning of the year.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=176}} The [[United States dollar]] depreciated as the American trade deficit increased, while surpluses in Japan and the European Union led to appreciation for the [[Japanese yen]] and the [[euro]].{{Sfn|UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs|2005|pp=v, 1}}{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=172}} The valuation of the Chinese [[renminbi]] was a subject of international debate as it was tied to the US dollar.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=176}}

The global economy had recovered from the [[early 2000s recession]] by 2004.{{Sfn|UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs|2005|p=5}} The greatest recovery took place in Japan and the United States.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=172}} Stock markets performed well globally in early months as economic recovery appeared strong, but downturns occurred later in the year.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|pp=176–177}} China became the largest recipient of [[foreign direct investment]], exceeding that received by the United States.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=172}} [[Doha Development Round]] negotiations resumed in August after their failure in 2003, and a framework was agreed upon for developed countries to limit agricultural subsidies and reduce tariffs.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|pp=144–145}} The United States signed [[Dominican Republic–Central America Free Trade Agreement|a free trade agreement]] with several Central American countries, and [[Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement|another agreement]] with Australia.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=145}}

Growing demand for oil led [[oil price]]s to increase by over 50%, which was followed by a smaller decrease in price, but the global economy accommodated the price increase without significant inflation or [[price shock]];{{Sfn|UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs|2005|p=iv}} [[speculation]] on oil further increased its price.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=183}} [[Coffee]] prices rose in 2004 after a years-long decline that had reduced its supply.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=183}} Most metals, including gold, steel and aluminum, also rose in price significantly.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=186}} Transportation industries like airlines and car manufacturers fared poorly throughout the year, though [[Toyota]] grew to become the second largest car manufacturing company after [[General Motors]].{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|pp=184–185}} The [[World Trade Organization]] objected to agricultural subsidies for sugar in the European Union and cotton in the United States due to fears that they would negatively affect global prices.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=144}}

[[Initial public offering]]s (IPO) from technology companies amounted to $10.7 billion in 2004, including the $1.7 billion IPO of Google, significantly exceeding the $3.3 billion of technology company IPOs in 2003.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=432}} [[Google]] emerged as the dominant [[search engine]] by 2004 and made its initial public offering in August by public auction.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=163}} Internet advertising in 2004 exceeded the rates that it had achieved prior to a downturn caused by the [[dot-com bubble burst]] in 2000, totaling $2.37 billion.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=162}} The largest Russian oil company, [[Yukos]], was partially dismantled by the government after finding it owed back taxes.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=184}} The retail company [[Kmart]] announced its intention in November to acquire its competitor [[Sears]] and create [[Sears Holdings]].{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=90}} [[Oracle Corporation]] succeeded in its [[hostile takeover]] of [[PeopleSoft]] in December for $10.3 billion.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=163}} [[SCO Group]] was unable to advance [[SCO–Linux disputes|its dispute]] against [[IBM]] regarding ownership of [[Unix]] and [[Linux]].{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=435}} [[Cunard Line]] launched the [[Queen Mary 2|RMS ''Queen Mary 2'']] in January.{{Sfn|Time|2005|pp=100–101}}

== Environment and weather ==
{{Main|2004 in the environment}}

{{See also|List of earthquakes in 2004|Tropical cyclones in 2004}}
[[File:2004 Indian Ocean earthquake - affected countries.png|thumb|[[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|A magnitude 9.1 earthquake]] caused damage across the [[Indian Ocean]] in December.]]
The year 2004 was the fourth hottest year on record, and it was the first in four years to have above-average precipitation.{{Sfn|NOAA|2005}} Major heat waves occurred in Australia, Japan, and Spain, while deadly cold waves occurred in Peru and southern Asia. Heavy winter storms occurred in the Middle East and around the Mediterranean.{{Sfn|NOAA|2005}} Ongoing droughts continued in the [[Horn of Africa]] and the [[western United States]], while deadly floods occurred in Brazil and on the [[Mexico–United States border]].{{Sfn|NOAA|2005}}

[[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|A magnitude 9.1 earthquake]] struck Indonesia on December 26.<ref name="earthquake">{{Cite web |title=Timeline: World's deadliest earthquakes since 2000 |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/6/the-worlds-deadliest-earthquakes-since-2000 |website=Al Jazeera |archive-date=October 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005031552/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/6/the-worlds-deadliest-earthquakes-since-2000 |url-status=live}}</ref> This was the largest earthquake anywhere since [[1964 Alaska earthquake|a magnitude 9.2 earthquake]] struck Alaska in 1964.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=169}} The 2004 earthquake and the resulting tsunami killed approximately 230,000 people across the region,<ref name="earthquake" /> and the tsunami affected countries across the Indian Ocean in both Asia and Africa.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=169}} This included the destruction of the Indonesian city [[Banda Aceh]].{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=7}} As the year closed, the earthquake was recognized as a defining event of 2004.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=1}}

There were 15 [[Tropical cyclone naming|named storms]] in the [[2004 Atlantic hurricane season]], nine of which were hurricanes. The most intense storms were [[Hurricane Ivan]], [[Hurricane Charley]], [[Hurricane Frances]], and [[Hurricane Karl (2004)|Hurricane Karl]].{{Sfn|Franklin et al.|2005|p=982}} It was the second deadliest hurricane season of the previous 30 years, as [[Hurricane Jeanne]] killed over 3,000 people in Haiti as well as leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless.{{Sfn|Franklin et al.|2005|p=981}} There were 31 tropical storms in the [[2004 Pacific typhoon season]], 21 of which were typhoons.{{Sfn|Saunders|Lea|2005|p=1}} The most intense typhoons were [[Typhoon Dianmu (2004)|Typhoon Dianmu]], [[Typhoon Chaba (2004)|Typhoon Chaba]], and [[Typhoon Nida (2004)|Typhoon Nida]], and [[Typhoon Ma-on (2004)|Typhoon Ma-on]].{{Sfn|Saunders|Lea|2005|p=2}} Seven tropical storms made landfall in Japan, and it suffered the most typhoon strikes since 1982 with four typhoons. [[Typhoon Rananim]], the strongest typhoon to strike eastern China in five decades, destroyed 42,400 homes.{{Sfn|Saunders|Lea|2005|p=1}} [[Typhoon Muifa (2004)|Typhoon Muifa]] and [[Typhoon Nanmadol (2004)|Typhoon Nanmadol]] killed a combined total of 1,375 people in Philippines.{{Sfn|Saunders|Lea|2005|p=2}}

While the existence of man-made [[climate change]] had been confirmed by 2004, efforts continued to produce models that could accurately measure and predict its severity as [[greenhouse gas emissions]] increased globally.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|pp=437–438}} Special attention was paid to the relationship between climate change and [[air pollution]], as well as potential effects of [[abrupt climate change]] like the shut down of [[thermohaline circulation]] and the destruction of the [[Greenland ice sheet]].{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=438}} A four-year study of Arctic conditions resulted in the [[Arctic Climate Impact Assessment]].{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=439}} Several studies throughout the year demonstrated significant potential for [[Holocene extinction|human-caused extinction]] of biodiversity from climate change, deforestation, and other causes.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|pp=440–441}} Poland banned the use of [[chlorofluorocarbon]]s on April 14, with most restrictions effective immediately. This was followed by a conference in June where [[Coca-Cola]], [[McDonald's]], and [[Unilever]] agreed to phase out chlorofluorocarbons.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=194}}

After expressing reservations, Russia ratified the [[Kyoto Protocol]] on November 5.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|pp=193–194}} This allowed it to take effect in 2005 without the involvement of the United States.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=436}} Several other ratifiers, including Italy, Finland, and Spain, protested the requirements it imposed.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|pp=193–194}} The [[Rotterdam Convention]] entered into force in February, requiring informed consent to export certain harmful chemicals.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=191}} The [[Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants]], an international treaty regulating [[persistent organic pollutant]]s, came into force on May 17.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=440}} The [[International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture]] came into effect on June 29.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=446}} The [[2004 United Nations Climate Change Conference]] took place in [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina, in December.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=436}}

== Health ==
{{Main category|2004 in health}}
[[File:Colorized transmission electron micrograph of Avian influenza A H5N1 viruses.jpg|thumb|The [[Influenza A virus subtype H5N1|H5N1]] virus [[Global spread of H5N1 in 2004|spurred fears]] of a possible pandemic.]]
The primary health concern of 2004 was the potential of an [[avian influenza]] pandemic during [[Global spread of H5N1 in 2004|the spread]] of [[Influenza A virus subtype H5N1|H5N1]] in eastern and southeastern Asia.<ref name="Bhattacharya" /> {{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=145}} Only 44 human cases were documented between January and October, but 32 of them resulted in death. The high mortality rate expedited production of [[H5N1 vaccine]]s.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=201}} This was accompanied by [[Spanish flu research|research into]] the [[Spanish flu]] that involved reconstructions of the virus's genes and infected tissue.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=431}}

American exportation of beef was halted throughout 2004 following the detection of [[bovine spongiform encephalopathy]].{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=145}} [[2003–2005 African locust outbreak|A locust outbreak]] spread across western Africa in July and August, causing food shortages throughout the region, while the War in Darfur led to a severe food crisis in Sudan.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=144}} The [[HIV/AIDS pandemic]] remained a predominant public health concern,<ref name="Bhattacharya">{{Cite web |last=Bhattacharya |first=Shaoni |title=2004: The year in biology and medicine |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn6837-2004-the-year-in-biology-and-medicine/ |date=December 27, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125022402/https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn6837-2004-the-year-in-biology-and-medicine/ |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |url-status=live |website=[[New Scientist]]}}</ref> and the ''[[2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic]]'' was released prior to the year's [[International AIDS Conference]], warning that [[HIV/AIDS]] cases were rising at a high rate.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=200}} [[Tuberculosis]] deaths increased in 2004 for the first time in over 40 years as a result of [[Drug resistant tuberculosis|drug resistant strains]] and [[Tuberculosis in relation to HIV|comorbidity with HIV]].{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=202}} The global [[2002–2004 SARS outbreak|global SARS epidemic]] and the [[West Nile virus]] outbreak [[West Nile virus in the United States|in the United States]] both receded in 2004 with significant drops in documented cases relative to 2003.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=202}}

Trials for new drugs included [[cotrimoxazole]] for HIV/AIDS,{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=431}} [[OZ 277]] and the [[Mosquirix]] vaccine for [[malaria]],{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=430}} and [[statin]]s to lower cholesterol.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=202}} [[Merck & Co.]] pulled the arthritis drug [[rofecoxib]] in September because it increased the risk of heart attack and stroke, leading to renewed scrutiny of pharmaceuticals and calls for reform in the United States.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|pp=203–204}}

== Politics and law ==
{{Main|2004 in politics}}

{{multiple image
| perrow            = 2
| total_width       = 300
| image1            = George-W-Bush (cropped 2).jpeg
| image2            = Vladimir Putin-2.jpg
| image3            = Hamid Karzai 2004-06-14 (cropped).jpg
| image4            = Viktor Yushchenko January 2006.jpg
| footer            = Clockwise from upper left: [[George W. Bush]] (United States), [[Vladimir Putin]] (Russia), [[Viktor Yushchenko]] (Ukraine), and [[Hamid Karzai]] (Afghanistan)
}}

Seven Eastern European nations were incorporated into [[NATO]], bringing the defense alliance to 26 members.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=252}} Ten countries joined the [[European Union]] in May, and the organization signed [[Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe|an agreement]] toward the creation of a constitution.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=5}} Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey were refused entry.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=447}} Disagreements remained over whether the European Union should be officially Christian.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=6}}

[[George W. Bush]] was [[2004 United States presidential election|reelected]] to a second term as president of the United States.{{Sfn|VOA|2004}} [[Vladimir Putin]] was [[2004 Russian presidential election|re-elected as president]] of Russia.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=7}} [[Manmohan Singh]] became the first Sikh prime minister of India following the victory of his [[Indian National Congress]] party [[2004 Indian general election|in May]];{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=81}} he was selected after [[Sonia Gandhi]] was met with opposition from [[Hindu nationalists]].{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=7}} [[Hamid Karzai]] won [[2004 Afghan presidential election|Afghanistan's first presidential election]],{{Sfn|VOA|2004}} but his government did not control significant territory outside of the capital, [[Kabul]], as the rest of the country was occupied by [[warlord]]s.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=4}} The [[2004 Ukrainian presidential election|Ukrainian presidential election]] was disputed due to election fraud, voiding the victory of [[Viktor Yanukovych]]; [[Viktor Yushchenko]] won in the re-run election, and the [[Constitution of Ukraine]] was amended in response to the affair.{{Sfn|VOA|2004}} President [[Jean-Bertrand Aristide]] of Haiti fled the country after [[2004 Haitian coup d'état|a coup]] on February 29 under pressure from the United States.{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=80}} [[Yasser Arafat]], the leader of Palestine and main figure in the [[Palestinian nationalism]] movement, died in November and was succeeded by [[Mahmoud Abbas]] until an election [[2005 Palestinian presidential election|could take place]] the following year;{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=3}} Arafat's death prompted questions about the movement's direction.{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=70}}

[[Iran and weapons of mass destruction|Iranian]] and [[North Korea and weapons of mass destruction|North Korean]] nuclear programs were brought under scrutiny in 2004, and [[Ryanggang explosion|an explosion in North Korea]] on September 9 raised fears of possible [[nuclear weapons testing]].{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=77}} [[Abdul Qadeer Khan]], a leading figure in the development of [[Pakistan and weapons of mass destruction|Pakistan's nuclear weapons]], was discovered to have been trading nuclear secrets to Iran, Iraq, Libya, and North Korea. South Korea was also found to be developing [[South Korea and weapons of mass destruction|a nuclear weapons program]] despite being involved in anti-proliferation efforts.{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=76}}

Other political developments in 2004 included protests against high crime rates in several Latin American countries,{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=211}} the removal of the death penalty in the majority of countries following its abolition in Bhutan and Samoa,{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=211}} and the indictment of Macedonian interior minister [[Ljube Boškoski]] for involvement in the 2002 [[Raštanski Lozja killings]].{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=211}} Elsewhere, [[Augusto Pinochet]] in Chile, [[Luis Echeverría]] in Mexico, and [[Slobodan Milošević]] in Serbia faced allegations of crimes against humanity.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=287}} For her work in environmentalism, [[Wangarĩ Maathai]] from Kenya became the first African woman to win the [[Nobel Peace Prize]].{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=100}}

=== War on terror ===
[[File:SaddamHussein in court 2004July01 DF-SD-05-03944.jpg|thumb|[[Saddam Hussein]] on trial]]
[[Iraqi Interim Government|A provisional government]] was created in Iraq under Prime Minister [[Ayad Allawi]] in June, succeeding the American-run [[Coalition Provisional Authority]].{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=1}}{{Sfn|VOA|2004}} The United States retained control of institutions such as national defense and the prison system,{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=205}} causing legal ambiguity over whether the nation should still be considered under occupation.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=442}}

Western involvement in Iraq grew unpopular as human rights abuses were uncovered, violence led to civilian casualties, and the [[rationale for the Iraq War]] was found to be misleading. The [[Iraq Survey Group]] was unable to find evidence of the [[Iraq and weapons of mass destruction|weapons of mass destruction in Iraq]] that had been used to justify the invasion.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=2}} It was revealed in May that American soldiers were [[Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse|committing acts of torture]] against people held in the [[Abu Ghraib prison]] in Iraq,{{Sfn|VOA|2004}} leading to the conviction of several American soldiers in military courts.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=205}} This accompanied the controversial use of the [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp]] to hold suspected terrorists without due process.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=2}} The United States worked to rebuild relations with its allies that had opposed the invasion toward a mutual goal of [[Investment in post-invasion Iraq|Iraqi reconstruction]].{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|pp=4–5}}

Deposed Iraqi president [[Saddam Hussein]] appeared in court in July on charges of committing genocide during his rule.{{Sfn|VOA|2004}} His trial was held under the [[Supreme Iraqi Criminal Tribunal]], which was created by the United States and operated under Iraqi law. Hussein contested the tribunal's legitimacy and there were calls to hold an international tribunal.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=205}}

The United Kingdom and the United States passed [[anti-terrorism legislation]] and initiated [[Mass surveillance|surveillance programs]] as part of the [[war on terror]], prompting concerns about infringement of civil rights.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|pp=4–5}} [[Osama bin Laden]] released [[2004 Osama bin Laden video|a video]] on October 29 where he claimed responsibility for the [[September 11 attacks]].{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=74}}

=== International law ===
The [[International Court of Justice]] made two rulings in 2004: it ruled in the [[Avena case|''Avena'' case]] that the United States had violated its obligations to the [[Vienna Convention on Consular Relations]] when prosecuting Mexican nationals, and it ruled that it had no jurisdiction in the ''[[Legality of Use of Force]]'' case brought by [[Serbia and Montenegro]] against NATO nations.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=442}} It also issued [[Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory|an advisory opinion]] arguing that the construction of the [[West Bank barrier]] violated the Palestinian people's right to [[self-determination]].{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|pp=443–444}} Two border disputes, ''[[Romania v. Ukraine]]'' and ''[[Benin v. Niger]]'', were brought before the court in 2004.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=205}}

The [[International Criminal Court]] (ICC) opened its first two investigations: one [[International Criminal Court investigation in Uganda|in Uganda]] and one [[International Criminal Court investigation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo|in the Democratic Republic of the Congo]].{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=445}} The United States did not receive an extension on American immunity from the ICC, so it instead negotiated bilateral treaties with other nations to prevent them from turning Americans over to the court.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=205}} The [[International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda]] convicted [[Emmanuel Ndindabahizi]], [[Jean de Dieu Kamuhanda]], and [[Samuel Imanishimwe]] of genocide.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=444}} The trial of [[Slobodan Milošević]] began under the [[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia]],{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=445}} while appeals by [[Radislav Krstić]] and [[Tihomir Blaškić]] resulted in lesser charges and reductions in their sentences.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=208}}

== Religion ==
{{Main category|2004 in religion}}
[[File:Patriarch Bartholomew Archbishop Jovan Liturgy.jpg|thumb|[[Bartholomew I of Constantinople]] was the first Orthodox patriarch to visit Latin America.]]
The [[Catholic Church sexual abuse cases|sexual abuse scandals]] of the [[Catholic Church]] further developed in 2004 with resignations and legal proceedings.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|pp=280–281}} The Catholic Church returned the relics of [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory of Nazianzus]] to Istanbul.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=456}} Within [[Eastern Orthodoxy]], [[Bartholomew I of Constantinople]] suspended relations with [[Christodoulos of Athens]]. Bartholomew accepted an apology from the Roman Catholic Church for the 1204 [[sack of Constantinople]].{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=279}} The {{Interlanguage link|St Nicholas of Myra Cathedral of Havana|pl|Cerkiew św. Mikołaja w Hawanie}}, the first religious building to be constructed in Cuba since the [[Cuban Revolution]], was consecrated by Bartholomew in January; this was the first time an Orthodox patriarch visited Latin America.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=281}} [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] leader [[Patriarch Peter VII of Alexandria]] died in a helicopter crash in 2004.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=456}}

The issue of gay rights remained incredibly divisive among different [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] groups and caused schisms, especially in the United States where the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church]] was more accepting of same-sex partnerships.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=455}} The [[Anglican Communion]] released the [[Windsor Report]] that condemned the selection of [[Gene Robinson]], a gay man, as a bishop in the United States.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=278}} The [[United Methodist Church]] responded by announcing its opposition to the ordination of gay bishops.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=279}} Also in the United States, the [[Southern Baptist Convention]] ended its connection with the [[Baptist World Alliance]] for being too liberal.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=279}}

Several Christian groups, including the [[Presbyterian Church (USA)|Presbyterian Church]], [[World Council of Churches]], and the [[Lutheran World Federation]], had relations sour with Jewish groups after criticizing [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict|Israeli actions against Palestine]].{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=279}} Disagreement emerged among Jews in Israel when Chief Rabbi [[Avraham Shapira]] declared that [[Orthodox Jews]] should disregard orders to [[Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip|dismantle Israeli settlements in Gaza]].{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=458}}

Religious violence remained a major issue within the [[Islamic world]] as religious leaders condemned attacks led by [[Islamist]] groups,{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=278}}{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=3}} and Islamic organizations held several summits in favor of religious tolerance and opposition to Islamism.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=457}} The overthrow of [[Ba'athist Iraq]] in 2003 meant increased religious tension between [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] and [[Shia Islam|Shia]] sects of Islam within the country.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|pp=1–2}} The [[Sankararaman murder case]] caused controversy following the death of temple manager Sankara Raman in the Hindu monastery [[Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham]].{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=456}} Several countries saw continued debates on [[religion in education]],{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=189}} and France issued [[French law on secularity and conspicuous religious symbols in schools|a highly contested ban]] on religious attire in public schools.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=279}}

== Science ==
{{Main|2004 in science}}

[[File:Cranio di Homo Floresiensis.jpg|thumb|upright|The prehistoric human species ''[[homo floresiensis]]'' was discovered in 2004.]]
Study continued in the use of embryos to create [[stem cell]]s for research purposes. [[Stem cell controversy|Debate around stem cell usage]] occurred worldwide, and the United Nations was unable to agree on international law related to [[human cloning]] for the creation of stem cells.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=430}} Several studies of the relationship between humans and other hominids were completed in 2004, including a preliminary [[DNA sequencing|genome sequence]] for [[chimpanzee]]s.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=147}} A newborn [[western gorilla]] was observed for the first time in 50 years in the [[Léfini Faunal Reserve]].{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=196}} An early human species with small body proportions, ''[[homo floresiensis]]'', was announced with the discovery of the Flores man fossil.{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=138}} The fossil was discovered in the [[Liang Bua]] archaeological site on the Indonesian island of [[Flores]]. Announced on October 28, there had previously been no expectation of another human species in the area.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=148}}

The [[post-perovskite]] crystal structure was discovered when [[perovskite]] was placed under extreme pressure and temperature.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=170}} Research continued on the development and application of [[carbon nanotube]]s in the United Kingdom, prompting the [[Royal Society]] and the [[Royal Academy of Engineering]] to propose their classification as a new chemical.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=429}} Independent experiments in 2004 successfully produced [[quantum teleportation]] in particles and ions.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|pp=428–429}}{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=271}} [[Magnetic resonance force microscopy]] was used to observe a single electron for the first time.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|pp=271–272}}

[[Global warming]] was a major focus of the scientific community as results came in on [[sea level rise]].{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|pp=170–171}} A map of Earth's gravitational field was released in 2004 based on the results of the 2002 [[GRACE and GRACE-FO]] study, with ten times the resolution of previous maps.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=170}} A study by American and Italian researchers demonstrated a more precise form of [[interferometric synthetic-aperture radar]] to measure the deformation caused by tectonic activity.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|pp=168–169}}

Over 70 archaeological sites were established in the [[Petén Basin]] in Guatemala.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=151}} The [[Pool of Siloam]], a major reservoir from ancient Jerusalem, was discovered in the process of building a sewer pipe.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=150}}

=== Astronomy and space exploration ===
{{Main|2004 in spaceflight}}

[[File:Soyuz TMA-5 launch.jpg|thumb|upright|The ''[[Soyuz (spacecraft)|Soyuz]]'' program was the only crewed space program in 2004 ([[Soyuz TMA-5]] pictured).]]
[[NASA]] paused its [[Space Shuttle program]] following [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|the previous year's explosion]] of the [[Space Shuttle Columbia|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'']], meaning the only crewed flights in 2004 were part of Russia's ''[[Soyuz (spacecraft)|Soyuz]]'' program.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=426}} The [[Mars Exploration Rover]] program continued with the landing of the ''[[Spirit (rover)|Spirit]]'' rover on January 4 and the ''[[Opportunity (rover)|Opportunity]]'' rover on January 25. They provided evidence that Mars once had seas, prompting NASA to extend the rovers' mission to the end of the year.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=427}} NASA's ''[[Cassini–Huygens]]'' achieved orbit around Saturn in July.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=427}} It took images of Saturn's features, including infrared imaging of [[Rings of Saturn|its rings]],{{Sfn|Time|2005|pp=126–129}} and released the ESA's ''[[Huygens (spacecraft)|Huygens]]'' lander in December to study the moon [[Titan (moon)|Titan]].{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=427}} The ESA's [[SMART-1]] satellite achieved orbit around the Moon in November, and NASA's ''[[Genesis (spacecraft)|Genesis]]'' probe returned to Earth in September but was damaged in a failed landing.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=428}} Venus's path [[2004 transit of Venus|led it between the Earth and the Sun]] for the first time [[1882 transit of Venus|since 1882]].{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=127}} The [[Hubble Ultra-Deep Field]] image was released in March.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=273}}

Spacecraft launches in 2004 included the [[European Space Agency]] (ESA)'s ''[[Rosetta (spacecraft)|Rosetta]]'' probe on March 2 to study the comet [[67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko]], NASA's ''[[MESSENGER]]'' probe toward Mercury in August,{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=427}} [[SpaceShipOne flight 15P|a private spaceflight]] of the ''[[SpaceShipOne]]'' by [[Burt Rutan]] in October,{{Sfn|Time|2005|pp=124, 127}} and NASA's [[Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory]] (then called the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Explorer) launch into orbit in November to study [[gamma-ray burst]]s.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=428}} The [[Gravity Probe B]], [[Double Star (satellite)|Double Star]], and [[Aura (satellite)|Aura]] satellites were also launched in 2004.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=277}}

=== Technology ===
[[Wireless]] technology grew in popularity with the proliferation of devices like [[Pocket PC]]s and [[portable media player]]s,{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=86}} while [[high-definition television]] and [[digital video recorder]]s became more widely available.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=242}} [[Laptop]]s increased in popularity as they approached the computing power of [[desktop computer]]s, and as [[Wi-Fi]] became more accessible.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=167}} [[Flash drive]]s grew more popular while [[floppy disk]]s and [[personal digital assistant]]s saw continued decline.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=167}} [[3G]] technology was more widely adopted in Europe, while [[NTT DoCoMo]] began early trials for [[4G]] technology in Japan.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=434}}

[[Microsoft]] entered 2004 with a monopoly over [[web browser]]s through [[Internet Explorer]], but its share of the market was reduced to about 90 percent following the introduction of [[Firefox]].{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|pp=433–434}} [[Open-source software]] was incentivized and in some cases legally mandated by South American countries throughout the year.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=435}} Google released the first version of [[Gmail]] in April.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=163}} Malware attacks rose in early 2004, primarily through the [[Netsky (computer worm)|Netsky]] and [[Sasser (computer worm)|Sasser]] worms created by [[Sven Jaschan]]. [[Spamming|Spam]] and [[phishing]] emails were seen as a major problem and were met with arrests and lawsuits against perpetrators.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=161}}

The term ''[[nanotechnology]]'', first coined in the 1970s, was popularized among the general public in 2004.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=165}} New automobiles entering production in 2004 included the [[Chrysler 300]] and [[Ford Five Hundred]].{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=89}}

==Events==
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This timeline reflects the events described in the article above, determined by their inclusion in reliable sources about the year 2004. The sources used in this timeline exist solely to confirm the dates and do not on their own indicate due weight.

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===January===
[[File:Spirit's First Color Photograph Mars.jpg|thumb|A photo of the Martian surface taken by NASA's ''[[Spirit (rover)|Spirit]]'' rover]]
* [[January 4]]
** NASA's ''[[Spirit (rover)|Spirit]]'' rover lands on the surface of [[Mars]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap040104.html|title=Spirit Rover Bounces Down on Mars|website=NASA|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=March 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325023042/https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap040104.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
** [[Southern Thailand insurgency|An insurgency]] breaks out in southern Thailand.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-01-13 |title=Thailand: Torture in the southern counter-insurgency |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa39/001/2009/en/ |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=Amnesty International |language=en |page=4}}</ref>
* [[January 8]] – The [[Queen Mary 2|RMS ''Queen Mary 2'']], at the time the largest ocean liner ever built, is christened by its namesake's granddaughter, [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.qm2.org.uk/history.html|title=The Cunard Liner Queen Mary 2|website=Queen Mary 2|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=May 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505212413/https://www.qm2.org.uk/history.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 21]] – [[Bartholomew I of Constantinople]] visits Cuba.<ref>{{Cite web |last=AsiaNews.it |title=Bartholomew I lands in Havana, while arrests of Christians continue |url=https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Bartholomew-I-lands-in-Havana,-while-arrests-of-Christians-continue-000289.html |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=www.asianews.it |language=en}}</ref>
* [[January 25]] – NASA's ''[[Opportunity (rover)|Opportunity]]'' rover lands on the surface of Mars.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/newsroom/pressreleases/20040125a.html |title=NASA Hears From Opportunity Rover On Mars |website=NASA |access-date=January 7, 2022 |archive-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120233737/https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/newsroom/pressreleases/20040125a.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

===February===
* [[February 1]]
** [[2004 Erbil bombings|Two suicide bombings]] are carried out by [[al-Qaeda]] in [[Erbil]], the capital of [[Iraqi Kurdistan]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-01 |title=Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Marks Anniversary of 2004 Erbil Attacks |url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/891200/slug |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=Kurdistan24 |language=en}}</ref>
** [[Janet Jackson]] suffers [[Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy|a wardrobe malfunction]] during [[Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show|the halftime show]] of [[Super Bowl XXXVIII]].{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=240}}
* [[February 24]] – The [[Rotterdam Convention]] comes into force.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of the negotiations of the Rotterdam Convention |url=https://www.pic.int/TheConvention/Overview/History/Overview/tabid/1360/language/en-US/Default.aspx |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=www.pic.int}}</ref>
* [[February 29]] – [[Haiti]]an president [[Jean-Bertrand Aristide]] is [[2004 Haitian coup d'état|overthrown in a coup d'état]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3519821.stm|title=Embattled Aristide quits Haiti|date=2004-02-29|website=BBC News|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506074430/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3519821.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===March===
* [[March 2]]
** [[2004 Ashura massacre|A series of bombings]] occur in [[Karbala]], Iraq, killing over 140 [[Shia Islam|Shia Muslims]] commemorating the [[Ashura|Day of Ashura]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/02/international/middleeast/blasts-at-shiite-ceremonies-in-iraq-kill-more-than.html|title=Blasts at Shiite Ceremonies in Iraq Kill More Than 140|last1=Burns|first1=John F.|date=2004-03-02|last2=Gettleman|first2=Jeffrey|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=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|url-status=live}}</ref>
** The European Space Agency launches the ''[[Rosetta (spacecraft)|Rosetta]]'' space probe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rosetta |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref>
* [[March 9]] – [[NASA]] releases the [[Hubble Ultra-Deep Field]] image of early galaxies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=9 March |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/9_March |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref>
* [[March 11]] – [[Al-Qaeda]] [[2004 Madrid train bombings|bombings]] on [[Cercanías Madrid|Cercanías]] trains in [[Madrid]], Spain, kill at least 192 people.<ref name="El Mundo">{{cite web|url=https://www.elmundo.es/documentos/2006/04/11/auto_11m.html|title=elmundo.es. Documento: Auto del 11-M|website=www.elmundo.es|access-date=February 24, 2021|archive-date=April 12, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060412150158/https://www.elmundo.es/documentos/2006/04/11/auto_11m.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[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)]. The 192nd victim died in 2014, after a decade in coma in a hospital of Madrid. She was the last hospitalized injured person.</ref>
* [[March 14]] – [[Vladimir Putin]] is [[2004 Russian presidential election|reelected]] president of Russia with 71.2 percent of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-03-15 |title=Russia's Putin Coasts to Re-Election Victory |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/europe-jan-june04-russia_03-15 |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=PBS News |language=en-us}}</ref>
* [[March 17]] – [[2004 unrest in Kosovo|Ethnic violence breaks out]] in Kosovo between Albanians and Serbs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-03-18 |title=Serbia Kosovo Clashes |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/serbia-kosovo-clashes/ |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[March 22]] – [[Hamas]] leader [[Ahmed Yassin]] is killed by Israeli missile strikes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-03-22 |title=Hamas #1 Leader Is Killed |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hamas-1-leader-is-killed/ |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[March 28]] – Bombings attributed to the [[Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan]] kill 15 in [[Tashkent]], the capital of Uzbekistan. This is the first instance of suicide bombings in the country or the surrounding region of central Asia.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Saidazimova |first=Gulnoza |date=2012-02-02 |title=Tashkent Explosions Still Felt Two Years Later |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1067140.html |access-date=2026-04-17 |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |language=en}}</ref>
* [[March 29]] – [[Bulgaria]], [[Estonia]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Romania]], [[Slovakia]] and [[Slovenia]] are admitted to [[NATO]], the largest expansion of the organization.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/apr/02/nato|title=Seven join Nato in biggest expansion|agency=Press Association|date=2004-04-02|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202122647/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/apr/02/nato|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[March 30]] – The [[Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (1994)|Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)]] abducts over 1,000 people from the [[Bajura District]] to fight in the [[Nepalese Civil War]].{{Sfn|Dwan|Holmqvist|2005|p=99}}
* [[March 31]]
** Four American security contractors are killed in [[Fallujah]], Iraq, leading to the [[First Battle of Fallujah]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-11-10 |title=Iraq's hardest fight: The US battle for Falluja 2004 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29984665 |access-date=2026-04-17 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
** The [[International Court of Justice]] rules in the [[Avena case|''Avena'' case]] that the United States had violated its obligations to the [[Vienna Convention on Consular Relations]] when prosecuting Mexican nationals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Avena and Other Mexican Nationals (Mexico v. United States of America) |url=https://www.icj-cij.org/case/128 |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=www.icj-cij.org}}</ref>

===April===
[[File:Vitali Klitschko 2009 01 27 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Vitali Klitschko]] became the [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] world heavyweight champion on April 24.]]
* [[April 1]] – Google launches [[Gmail]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Liedtke |first=Michael |date=2024-03-31 |title=20 years ago, people thought Google's Gmail launch was an April Fool's Day joke |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/20-years-ago-people-thought-googles-gmail-launch-was-an-april-fools-day-joke |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=PBS News |language=en-us}}</ref>
* [[April 4]]
** The [[Siege of Sadr City]] begins when the [[Mahdi Army]] ambushes American soldiers in [[Sadr City]], Iraq.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inside the ambush known as Black Sunday |url=https://abcnews.com/US/inside-ambush-black-sunday/story?id=50962302 |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref>
** The [[United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire]] begins to maintain a ceasefire in the [[First Ivorian Civil War]].<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.ipinst.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1806_Many-Lives-of-a-Peacekeeping-Mission.pdf |title=The Many Lives of a Peacekeeping Mission: The UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire |last=Novosseloff |first=Alexandra |date=2018 |publisher=International Peace Institute |page=9}}</ref>
* [[April 8]] – The [[Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement]] is signed by the [[Sudan]]ese government and two rebel groups to create a ceasefire in the [[War in Darfur]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sudan: Darfur Destroyed: SUMMARY |url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/sudan0504/8.htm |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=www.hrw.org}}</ref>
* [[April 13]] – A newborn [[western gorilla]] is observed for the first time in 50 years in the [[Léfini Faunal Reserve]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=King |first=Tony |date=2004 |title=Reintroduced western gorillas reproduce for the first time |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256294195_Reintroduced_western_gorillas_reproduce_for_the_first_time |journal=Oryx |volume=38 |issue=3 |pages=251–252}}</ref>
* [[April 14]] – Poland bans the use of [[chlorofluorocarbons]].{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=194}}
* [[April 17]] – Israeli helicopters fire missiles at a convoy of vehicles in the [[Gaza Strip]], killing [[Hamas]] leader [[Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/04/17/mideast.violence/|title=Hamas leader killed in Israeli airstrike|date=2004-04-17|website=CNN|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=February 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207074455/http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/04/17/mideast.violence/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[April 18]] – Newly elected [[Prime Minister of Spain|prime minister of Spain]], [[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]], announces the withdrawal of all 1,300 Spanish troops from [[Multi-National Force – Iraq|Iraq]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sciolino |first=Elaine |date=May 6, 2004 |title=Premier Says Spanish Troops Would Never Return to Iraq |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/06/international/europe/premier-says-spanish-troops-would-never-return-to-iraq.html |work=The New York Times}}</ref>
* [[April 19]] – Russia launches the [[Soyuz TMA-4]] mission.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-04-19 |title=NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 19 Apr 2004 |url=https://spaceref.com/status-report/nasa-space-station-on-orbit-status-19-apr-2004/ |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=SpaceRef |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[April 24]] – Ukrainian boxer [[Vitali Klitschko]] becomes the [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] world heavyweight champion [[Vitali Klitschko vs. Corrie Sanders|after defeating]] his opponent [[Corrie Sanders]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-04-25 |title=V. Klitschko Overpowers Sanders in Eighth Round |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2004/04/25/v-klitschko-overpowers-sanders-in-eighth-round/eece9f13-f170-4551-835a-8b8750d6655b/ |access-date=2026-04-18 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
* [[April 28]] – [[The Gherkin]] opens in [[London]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Gherkin transformed London’s skyline – but now is set to disappear from view |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/24/gherkin-london-skyline-disappearing-view-architecture-city/ |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=The Telegraph}}</ref>
* [[April 30]] – Patriarch [[Bartholomew I of Constantinople]] breaks Eucharistic communion with Archbishop [[Christodoulos of Athens]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople Broke Eucharistic Communion with Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens |url=http://orthodoxeurope.org/page/19/2/64.aspx |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=orthodoxeurope.org}}</ref>

===May===
[[File:Garçon à la pipe.jpg|thumb|upright|''[[Garçon à la pipe]]'' sold at auction for $104.2 million.]]
* [[May 1]] – The [[2004 enlargement of the European Union|European Union expands]] by 10 new member states: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/04/30/eu.enlargement/|title=EU welcomes 10 new members|date=2004-05-01|website=CNN|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=February 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224141614/http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/04/30/eu.enlargement/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[May 5]] – ''[[Garçon à la pipe]]'', painted by [[Pablo Picasso]] in 1905, is sold for $104.2 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martinovic |first=Jelena |date=2025-04-02 |title=Garçon à la pipe, 1905: Masterpiece from Picasso's Rose Period |url=https://blog.artsper.com/en/a-closer-look/garcon-a-la-pipe/ |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=Artsper Magazine |language=en-GB}}</ref> This was the highest price a work of art had ever been sold for at auction.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-05-06 |title=Picasso painting sets new world record price |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-05-06/picasso-painting-sets-new-world-record-price/1971638 |access-date=2026-04-18 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>
* [[May 7]]
** [[Vladimir Putin]] is [[Second inauguration of Vladimir Putin|sworn in]] for a second term as [[Russia]]'s president.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Myers |first=Steven L. |date=May 8, 2004 |title=Sworn in for 2nd Term, Solemn Putin Promises Better, Freer Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/08/world/sworn-in-for-2nd-term-solemn-putin-vows-better-freer-times.html |work=New York Times}}</ref>
** The discovery of the [[post-perovskite]] form of [[magnesium silicate]] is reported.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Murakami |first=Motohiko |last2=Hirose |first2=Kei |last3=Kawamura |first3=Katsuyuki |last4=Sata |first4=Nagayoshi |last5=Ohishi |first5=Yasuo |date=2004-05-07 |title=Post-Perovskite Phase Transition in MgSiO3 |url=https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1095932 |journal=Science |volume=304 |issue=5672 |pages=855–858 |doi=10.1126/science.1095932|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
* [[May 9]] – A [[2004 Grozny stadium bombing|stadium bombing]] in [[Grozny]], [[Chechnya]], Russia kills ten people, including regional governor [[Akhmad Kadyrov]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/09/international/europe/chechen-president-is-killed-in-bombing-at-holiday.html|title=Chechen president is killed in bombing at holiday|date=2004-05-09|website=New York Times|access-date=2023-02-02|archive-date=January 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127172816/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/09/international/europe/chechen-president-is-killed-in-bombing-at-holiday.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[May 13]] – The [[Ralito II Agreement]] is signed between Colombia and the [[United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia]].
* [[May 17]] – The [[Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants]] enters into force.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=440}}
* [[May 22]] – [[Manmohan Singh]], a [[Sikhs|Sikh]], is sworn in as [[India]]'s first non-[[Hindus|Hindu]] prime minister.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mishra |first=Samiran |date=December 27, 2024 |title=How Manmohan Singh Became "Accidental PM" After Shock UPA Victory In 2004 |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/manmohan-singh-how-manmohan-singh-became-accidental-pm-after-shock-upa-victory-in-2004-7341407 |work=NDTV India News}}</ref>
* [[May 23]] – The [[Seattle Central Library]] opens in [[Seattle]], Washington.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seattle's new library |url=https://special.seattletimes.com/o/news/local/library/stories/patronsflock.html |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=The Seattle Times}}</ref>
* [[May 24]] – A fire at a [[Momart]] warehouse destroys numerous works of art.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Meek |first=James |date=2004-09-23 |title=Art into ashes |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2004/sep/23/art.britartfire |access-date=2026-04-18 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

===June===
[[File:Venus Transit 2004.JPG|thumb|A [[transit of Venus]] took place [[2004 transit of Venus|on June 8, 2004]].]]
* [[June 1]] – The [[United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti]] (MINUSTAH) peacekeeping mission begins in Haiti.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MINUSTAH |url=https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/factsheet/minustah |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=UN Peacekeeping |language=en}}</ref>
* [[June 8]] – [[2004 transit of Venus|A transit of Venus]] occurs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eso.org/public/outreach/eduoff/vt-2004/vt-intro.html |title=The Venus Transit 2004 |website=ESO |access-date=January 8, 2022 |archive-date=January 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108191713/https://www.eso.org/public/outreach/eduoff/vt-2004/vt-intro.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[June 21]] – In [[Mojave, California]], United States, [[SpaceShipOne]] becomes the first privately funded [[spaceplane]] to achieve [[Human spaceflight|spaceflight]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2011/06/0621spaceshipone-first-private-spacecraft/|title=SpaceShipOne Reaches Space|last=Long|first=Tony|date=2004-06-21|magazine=Wired|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127152420/https://www.wired.com/2011/06/0621spaceshipone-first-private-spacecraft/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[June 23]] – The [[International Criminal Court]] opens [[International Criminal Court investigation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo|an investigation]] into crimes against humanity during the [[Second Congo War]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-03-17 |title=DR Congo: ICC Arrest First Step to Justice {{!}} Human Rights Watch |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2006/03/17/dr-congo-icc-arrest-first-step-justice |access-date=2026-04-18 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[June 28]] – The US-led coalition occupying Iraq, the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]] (CPA), transfers sovereignty to the [[Iraqi Interim Government]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jun/28/iraq.iraq1|title=US hands over power in Iraq|date=2004-06-28|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202122301/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jun/28/iraq.iraq1|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[June 29]] – The [[International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture]] enters into force.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=446}}

===July===
* [[July 1]]
** [[Saddam Hussein]] appears in court for his charges to be read.{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|p=205}}
** The ''[[Cassini–Huygens]]'' orbiter reaches the orbit of [[Saturn]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3846195.stm|title=Cassini probe enters Rhea orbit|date=2004-07-01|website=BBC News|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=November 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119101439/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3846195.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[July 4]] – The International Court of Justice issues [[Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory|an advisory ruling]] that the construction of the [[West Bank barrier]] violates the Palestinian people's right to [[self-determination]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory |url=https://www.icj-cij.org/case/131 |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=www.icj-cij.org}}</ref>
* [[July 15]] – The use of [[magnetic resonance imaging]] to study the spin of a single electron is reported.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weiss |first=Peter |date=2004-07-14 |title=Feel the Force: Magnetic probe finds lone electron |url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/feel-force-magnetic-probe-finds-lone-electron |access-date=2026-04-18 |language=en-US}}</ref> 
* [[July 24]] – The Mexican government files charges against former President of Mexico [[Luis Echeverría]] for his role in the 1971 [[El Halconazo|Corpus Christi massacre]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kraul |first=Chris |date=2004-07-24 |title=Ex-President of Mexico Indicted |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jul-24-fg-arrest24-story.html |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[July 29]] – The International Criminal Court opens [[International Criminal Court investigation in Uganda|an investigation]] into the actions of the [[Lord's Resistance Army]] in Uganda.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-10-14 |title=ICC Takes Decisive Step for Justice in Uganda {{!}} Human Rights Watch |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2005/10/14/icc-takes-decisive-step-justice-uganda |access-date=2026-04-18 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[July 30]] – The [[Frauenkirche, Dresden|Frauenkirche]] church finishes reconstruction after its destruction in 1945.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stuttgart |first=PUL Ingenieure |title=Reconstruction of the Frauenkirche — Peter und Lochner Engineering |url=https://www.pul-ingenieure.de/en/bauwerk-5/ |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=www.pul-ingenieure.de |language=en-US}}</ref>

===August===
[[File:Newbaiyunairport.jpg|thumb|[[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]] began operation in August 2004.]]
* [[August 3]] – [[NASA]]'s ''[[MESSENGER]]'' space probe is launched, with its primary mission being the study of [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.space.com/210-nasa-sends-mercury-messenger.html|title=NASA Sends Mercury a MESSENGER|last=Malik|first=Tariq|date=2004-08-03|newspaper=Space.com|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202030834/http://www.space.com/210-nasa-sends-mercury-messenger.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[August 5]]
** The [[Battle of Najaf (2004)|Battle of Najaf]] begins in [[Najaf]], Iraq.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-08-24 |title=US and Iraqi forces close in on Najaf shrine |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/aug/24/iraq |access-date=2026-04-17 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
** [[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]] begins operation in [[Guangzhou]], China.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chinese airport challenges Hong Kong |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2004/8/3/chinese-airport-challenges-hong-kong |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref>
* [[August 7]]–[[August 13|13]] – [[Typhoon Rananim]] causes widespread destruction as it strikes China.{{Sfn|Saunders|Lea|2005|pp=1–2}}
* [[August 11]] – Fighting breaks out in the [[Georgian–Ossetian conflict]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Peuch |first=Jean-Christophe |date=2008-04-08 |title=Deadliest Fighting In Years Erupts In South Ossetia |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1054281.html |access-date=2026-04-17 |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |language=en}}</ref>
* [[August 12]] – The [[Rio–Antirrio Bridge]] opens in Greece.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chrysikou |first=Maria |date=2011-08-14 |title=Seven Years Success for Rio-Antirio Bridge |url=https://greekreporter.com/2011/08/14/seven-years-success-for-rio-antirio-bridge/ |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=GreekReporter.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[August 13]]–[[August 29|29]] – The [[2004 Summer Olympics]] are held in [[Athens]], Greece.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/3557922.stm|title=Olympics open in Athens|date=2004-08-13|website=BBC News|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=July 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724140701/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/3557922.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[August 19]] – [[Google]] makes its [[initial public offering]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=This Day In Market History: The Google IPO |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/day-market-history-google-ipo-105500069.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260308234014/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/day-market-history-google-ipo-105500069.html |archive-date=2026-03-08 |access-date=2026-04-18 |work=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[August 22]] – Armed robbers steal [[Edvard Munch]]'s ''[[The Scream]]'', ''[[Madonna (Munch)|Madonna]]'', and other paintings from the [[Munch Museum]] in [[Oslo]], Norway.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/08/22/scream.theft/|title=Armed robbers steal 'The Scream'|date=2004-08-23|website=CNN|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=September 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920195252/http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/08/22/scream.theft/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[August 24]] – Two Russian passenger jets [[2004 Russian aircraft bombings|are downed by suicide bombers]] during the [[Second Chechen War]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Sources: Suicide Bombers Struck Russian Planes |url=https://abcnews.com/International/story?id=84588&page=1 |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref>
* [[August 26]] – The immunity of former Chilean dictator [[Augusto Pinochet]] is revoked so he can be charged with crimes against humanity.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=173}}
* [[August 31]] – Former Yugoslavian president [[Slobodan Milošević]] stands trial for crimes against humanity.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=445}}

===September===
[[File:Beslan zdanie shkoly 1.JPG|thumb|A school in [[Beslan]], Russia, [[Beslan school siege|fell under siege]] during the [[Second Chechen War]].]]
* [[September 1]] – [[Chechens|Chechen]] rebels [[Beslan school siege|take 1,128 hostages]], mostly children, at a school in [[Beslan]], Russia. Russian security forces eventually storm the building, resulting in more than 330 people being killed.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090404112922/http://www.unicef.org/russia/media_4875.html 31 August 2006: Beslan – Two Years On], [[UNICEF]]</ref>
* [[September 2]] – A fire breaks out at the [[Duchess Anna Amalia Library]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=After the fire: Mass conservation methods for repairing the fire damage |url=https://www.klassik-stiftung.de/en/herzogin-anna-amalia-bibliothek/the-library/after-the-fire/ |website=Klassik Stiftung Weimer}}</ref>
* [[September 6]] – Fijian golfer [[Vijay Singh]] unseats [[Tiger Woods]] as the top [[PGA Tour]] player.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-09-06 |title=Singh grabs Tiger's top spot |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-09-07/singh-grabs-tigers-top-spot/2039412 |access-date=2026-04-18 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>
* [[September 7]] – The [[Scottish Parliament Building]] opens.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tempest |first=Matthew |date=2004-09-07 |title=Scottish parliament opens for business |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2004/sep/07/scotland.devolution |access-date=2026-04-18 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
* [[September 8]] – The ''[[Genesis (spacecraft)|Genesis]]'' space probe crash-lands in [[Utah]] after a three-year study of the Sun.<ref>{{Cite web |last=David |first=Leonard |date=2025-01-19 |title=20 years after crashing in the Utah desert, NASA's Genesis mission is still teaching us about solar wind |url=https://www.space.com/the-universe/20-years-after-crashing-in-the-utah-desert-nasas-genesis-mission-is-still-teaching-us-about-solar-wind |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=Space |language=en}}</ref>
* [[September 9]] – [[Ryanggang explosion|An explosion]] in [[Ryanggang Province]], North Korea, prompts speculation that North Korea [[North Korea and weapons of mass destruction|is testing nuclear weapons]].{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=77}}
* [[September 11]] – [[Patriarch Peter VII of Alexandria]] is killed in a helicopter crash.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-09-11 |title=Patriarch of Alexandria dies in air disaster |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/patriarch-of-alexandria-dies-in-air-disaster-1.486461 |website=CBA}}</ref>
* [[September 16]] – [[Hurricane Jeanne]] hits the island of [[Hispaniola]], killing thousands in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.{{Sfn|Franklin et al.|2005|pp=1015–1016}}
* [[September 30]]
** Israel [[2004 Israeli operation in the northern Gaza Strip|launches a military offensive]] in the northern Gaza Strip.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Israel and the Middle East timeline: January 2004 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/israel/page/0,12575,1122113,00.html |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=The Guardian}}</ref>
** Painkiller [[Rofecoxib|Vioxx]] is pulled from the market due to a potential doubling of [[Myocardial infarction|heart attack]] risk.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Neilan |first=Terence |date=September 30, 2004 |title=Merck Pulls Vioxx Painkiller from Market, Stock Plunges |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/30/business/merck-pulls-vioxx-painkiller-from-market-and-stock-plunges.html |work=New York Times}}</ref>

===October===
* [[October 8]] – Suicide bombers [[2004 Sinai bombings|detonate two bombs]] at the [[Red Sea]] resort of [[Taba, Egypt]], killing 34 people and injuring 171, mostly Israeli tourists.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/oct/08/israel.travelnews|title=Dozens killed in bomb blasts at Sinai resorts|last=Urquhart|first=Conal|date=2004-10-08|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=2017-02-07|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=February 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203201509/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/oct/08/israel.travelnews|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-04-26 |title=Egypt: Bombings Linked To Past Attacks - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/egypt-bombings-linked-to-past-attacks/ |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[October 9]] – Afghanistan holds [[2004 Afghan presidential election|its first presidential election]]. [[Hamid Karzai]] wins with 55.4 percent of the vote.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|p=283}}
* [[October 14]] – Russia launches the [[Soyuz TMA-5]] mission.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Malik |first=Tariq |date=2004-10-14 |title=Expedition 10 Crew Successfully Launches Into Space |url=https://www.space.com/433-expedition-10-crew-successfully-launches-space.html |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=Space |language=en}}</ref>
* [[October 28]] – The prehistoric human species ''[[Homo floresiensis]]'' is described.<ref>{{Cite news |title='Hobbits' on Flores, Indonesia |url=https://humanorigins.si.edu/research/asian-research-projects/hobbits-flores-indonesia |access-date=2026-04-18 |work=The Smithsonian Institution's Human Origins Program |language=en}}</ref>
* [[October 29]]
** [[Osama bin Laden]] releases [[2004 Osama bin Laden video|a video]] taking credit for the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bin Laden: 'Your security is in your own hands' |date=2004-10-29 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/10/29/bin.laden.transcript/ |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=CNN}}</ref>
** European heads of state sign in Rome the Treaty and Final Act, establishing the first [[Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe|European Constitution]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/scadplus/constitution/introduction_en.htm|title=SCADPlus: A Constitution for Europe|website=Europa|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104031911/http://europa.eu/scadplus/constitution/introduction_en.htm|archive-date=January 4, 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=2017-02-07}}</ref>

===November===
[[File:ArafatEconomicForum.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Yasser Arafat]] died in 2004, raising questions about who would lead the [[Palestinian nationalist]] movement.]]
* [[November 2]] – [[George W. Bush]] is [[2004 United States presidential election|reelected]] president of the United States, defeating his challenger [[John Kerry]].{{Sfn|Time|2005|p=29}}
* [[November 4]] – Conflict resumes in the First Ivorian Civil War as [[2004 French–Ivorian clashes|fighting breaks out]] between rebels and French peacekeepers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-08-09 |title=CHRONOLOGY-Key events in Ivory Coast's conflict |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/world/africa/chronology-key-events-in-ivory-coasts-conflict-idUSL30646742/ |website=Reuters}}</ref>
* [[November 5]] – Russia ratifies the [[Kyoto Protocol]].{{Sfn|Sparks|2005|pp=193–194}}
* [[November 7]] – The [[Second Battle of Fallujah]] begins in Fallujah, Iraq.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-11-08 |title=Troops Launch Fallujah Assault - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/troops-launch-fallujah-assault/ |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[November 9]] – [[Mozilla]] releases the [[Firefox]] browser.<ref>{{Cite web |title=November 9: Firefox 1.0 Introduced {{!}} This Day in History {{!}} Computer History Museum |url=https://www.computerhistory.org/tdih/november/9/ |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=www.computerhistory.org}}</ref>
* [[November 11]] – Palestinian president [[Yasser Arafat]] dies. [[Mahmoud Abbas]] is appointed as his successor.{{Sfn|Annual Register|2005|pp=182–183}}
* [[November 13]] – The [[European Space Agency]] probe [[SMART-1]] arrives at the [[Moon]], becoming the first European satellite to fly to the Moon and orbit it.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.space.com/2839-smart-1-space-probe-slams-moon.html|title=SMART-1 Space Probe Slams into the Moon|last=Leonard|first=David|date=2006-09-03|newspaper=Space|access-date=2017-02-07|archive-date=February 3, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203031317/http://www.space.com/2839-smart-1-space-probe-slams-moon.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[November 14]]–[[November 26|26]] – [[Typhoon Muifa (2004)|Typhoon Muifa]] kills 600 people in the Philippines.{{Sfn|Saunders|Lea|2005|p=2}}
* [[November 15]]
** The [[SMART-1]] satellite reaches the orbit of the Moon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SMART-1 captured into lunar orbit |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/SMART-1_captured_into_lunar_orbit |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref>
** A ceasefire is reached between Uganda and the [[Lord's Resistance Army]].{{Sfn|Dwan|Holmqvist|2005|p=101}}
* [[November 20]]
** The [[Museum of Modern Art]] reopens in its new location.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Irving |first=Mark |date=2004-11-01 |title=New York’s famous Museum of Modern Art turns the story of art upside down with its expanded $858 million new building complex |url=https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2004/11/01/new-yorks-famous-museum-of-modern-art-turns-the-story-of-art-upside-down-with-its-expanded-dollar858-million-new-building-complex |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=The Art Newspaper |language=en}}</ref>
** NASA launches the [[Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Explorer]] telescope.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-11-20 |title=Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission Marks Ten Years of Discovery |url=https://spacenews.com/swift-gamma-ray-burst-mission-marks-ten-years-of-discovery/}}</ref>
* [[November 21]] – [[Nintendo]] releases the [[Nintendo DS]] handheld game console in North America.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thorpe |first=Nick |date=2025-04-26 |title=20 Years of the Nintendo DS |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/platforms/nintendo/20-years-of-the-nintendo-ds-if-someone-had-told-you-in-2004-that-nintendo-was-about-to-abandon-the-game-boy-would-you-have-believed-them/ |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en}}</ref>
* [[November 22]] – The [[Orange Revolution]] begins, following a [[2004 Ukrainian presidential election|disputed presidential election]] in [[Ukraine]] where [[Viktor Yanukovych]] won against [[Viktor Yushchenko]] amid accusations of electoral fraud. A revote results in Yushchenko being declared the winner.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2004/12/ukraines-orange-revolution/305157/|title=Ukraine's 'Orange Revolution'|last=Schneider|first=William|newspaper=The Atlantic|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=December 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206135055/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2004/12/ukraines-orange-revolution/305157/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[November 29]]–[[December 3]] – [[Typhoon Nanmadol (2004)|Typhoon Nanmadol]] kills 775 people in the Philippines.{{Sfn|Saunders|Lea|2005|p=2}}

===December===
* [[December 2]] – [[EUFOR]] takes over peacekeeping duties in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] from the [[United Nations peacekeeping|United Nations]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=CNN.com - EU takes over Bosnia peacekeeping - Dec 2, 2004 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/12/02/eu.bosnia/index.html |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=CNN}}</ref>
* [[December 14]] – The world's tallest bridge, the [[Millau Viaduct]] over the [[Tarn (river)|Tarn]] in the [[Massif Central]] mountains, France, is officially opened.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4091813.stm|title=France shows off tallest bridge|date=2004-12-14|website=BBC News|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=May 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506104059/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4091813.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[December 21]] – Iraqi insurgents [[2004 Forward Operating Base Marez bombing|attack a U.S. military base]] in the city of [[Mosul]], killing 22 people.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/deadly-attack-on-u-s-military-base|title=Deadly Attack on U.S. Military Base|date=2004-12-22|newspaper=Fox News|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202100055/http://www.foxnews.com/story/2004/12/22/deadly-attack-on-us-military-base.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[December 26]] – The 9.1–9.3 {{M|w}} [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|Indian Ocean earthquake]] shakes northern [[Sumatra]] with a maximum [[Modified Mercalli intensity scale|Mercalli intensity]] of IX (''Violent''). One of the largest observed [[tsunami]]s follows, affecting coastal areas of [[Thailand]], [[India]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Somalia]], the [[Maldives]], [[Malaysia]], [[Myanmar]], [[Bangladesh]], and [[Indonesia]], killing 227,000 people.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30602159|title=Indian Ocean tsunami anniversary: Memorial events held|date=2014-12-26|newspaper=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=November 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112195108/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30602159|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[December 30]] – A peace agreement is reached between Senegal and the [[Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance]].{{Sfn|Harbom|Wallensteen|2005|p=627}}

==Births and deaths==
{{Main|Category:2004 births|Deaths in 2004}}

==Nobel Prizes==
[[File:Nobel medal.png|right|120px]]
* [[Nobel Prize in Chemistry|Chemistry]] &ndash; [[Aaron Ciechanover]], [[Avram Hershko]], [[Irwin Rose]]
* [[Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences|Economics]] &ndash; [[Finn E. Kydland]], [[Edward C. Prescott]]
* [[Nobel Prize in Literature|Literature]] &ndash; [[Elfriede Jelinek]]
* [[Nobel Peace Prize|Peace]] &ndash; [[Wangarĩ Maathai]]
* [[Nobel Prize in Physics|Physics]] &ndash; [[David Gross|David J. Gross]], [[Hugh David Politzer]], [[Frank Wilczek]]
* [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine|Physiology or Medicine]] &ndash; [[Linda B. Buck]], [[Richard Axel]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/annualregistervo0000unse/ |url-access=registration |title=The Annual Register 2004 |date=2005 |publisher=Keesing's Worldwide |isbn=1-886994-48-X |volume=246 |ref={{harvid|Annual Register|2005}}}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Dwan |first1=Renata |last2=Holmqvist |first2=Caroline |title=SIPRI Yearbook 2005: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security |publisher=[[Stockholm International Peace Research Institute]] |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-19-928401-6 |pages=83–120 |chapter=Major armed conflicts |chapter-url=https://www.sipri.org/yearbook/2005/02}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Franklin |first=James L. |last2=Pasch |first2=Richard J. |last3=Avila |first3=Lixion A. |last4=Beven |first4=John L. |last5=Lawrence |first5=Miles B. |last6=Stewart |first6=Stacy R. |last7=Blake |first7=Eric S. |date=2005 |title=Atlantic Hurricane Season of 2004 |url=http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/10.1175/MWR3096.1 |journal=Monthly Weather Review |volume=134 |issue=3 |pages=981–1025 |doi=10.1175/MWR3096.1 |issn=1520-0493 |ref={{harvid|Franklin et al.|2005}}}}
* {{Cite journal |last1=Harbom |first1=Lotta |last2=Wallensteen |first2=Peter |date=2005 |title=Armed Conflict and Its International Dimensions, 1946-2004 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/30042372 |journal=[[Journal of Peace Research]] |volume=42 |issue=5 |pages=623–635 |doi=10.1177/0022343305056238 |jstor=30042372 |issn=0022-3433}}
* {{Cite report |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/global/200413 |title=Annual 2004 Global Climate Report |date=2005 |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |archive-date=September 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910172204/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/global/200413 |url-status=live |ref={{harvid|NOAA|2005}}}}
* {{cite report |last1=Saunders |first1=Mark |last2=Lea |first2=Adam |date=2005-01-11 |title=Summary of 2004 NW Pacific Typhoon Season and Verification of Authors' Seasonal Forecasts |url=https://www.tropicalstormrisk.com/docs/TSRNWP2004Verification.pdf |website=Tropical Storm Risk |publisher=University College London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250614235327/https://www.tropicalstormrisk.com/docs/TSRNWP2004Verification.pdf |archive-date=June 14, 2025 |url-status=live}}
* {{Cite book |editor-last=Sparks |editor-first=Karen |title=Britannica Book of the Year 2005 |url=https://archive.org/details/britannicabookof0000unse_h4a1/ |url-access=registration |date=2005 |publisher=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |isbn=1-59339-246-X}}
* {{Cite book |title=Time Annual 2005 |url=https://archive.org/details/timeannual200500edit/ |url-access=registration |date=2005 |publisher=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |isbn=9781932273533 |ref={{harvid|Time|2005}}}}
* {{Cite report |url=https://population.un.org/wpp/downloads?folder=Standard%20Projections&group=Most%20used |title=World Population Prospects 2024 |date=2024 |publisher=United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs |ref={{harvid|UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs|2024}}}}
* {{Cite report |url=https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/3966489?ln=en&v=pdf |title=2004 Global Refugee Trends |date=2005 |publisher=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |ref={{harvid|UN High Commissioner for Refugees|2005}}}}
* {{Cite report |url=https://policy.desa.un.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/eapd2023/PDFs/WESP/2005wesp.pdf |title=World Economic Situation and Prospects 2005 |date=2005-08-01 |publisher=United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs |isbn=978-92-1-109146-5 |ref={{harvid|UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs|2005}}}}
* {{Cite web |date=December 28, 2004 |title=Biggest News Stories of 2004 |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2004-12-28-voa44-66338297/544867.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250420143039/https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2004-12-28-voa44-66338297/544867.html |archive-date=April 20, 2025 |url-status=live |website=[[Voice of America]] |ref={{harvid|VOA|2004}}}}

{{Events by month links}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2004}}
[[Category:2004| ]]
[[Category:Leap years in the Gregorian calendar]]