2004 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- →
Wikipedians look back on the year 2004. We welcome you to take part!
- Indonesia's ambassador to Malaysia, Rusdihardjo, claims that the death toll from the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake may eventually exceed 400,000 in Indonesia alone. (Malaysia Star (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2004/12/31/nation/9784484&sec=nation)) (Washington Times (http://washingtontimes.com/world/20041231-123615-9809r.htm))
- Colombia extradites FARC leader Simón Trinidad to the USA to face conspiracy, kidnapping, and drug trafficking charges. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4138753.stm)
- Ukraine's Viktor Yanukovych resigns from his post as Prime Minister. (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7215330)
- Taipei 101, the world's tallest skyscraper, is officially opened by Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian. (CNN) (http://edition.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/12/31/bt.taiwan.skyscraper.ap/) (Washington Times) (http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20041231-043626-7183r.htm)
- 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
- The Canadian government pledges to match dollar-for-dollar the donations of private Canadian citizens, in addition to the $40m in federal funds already committed; so far, Canadians have donated CAD 20m, mostly on-line. The government also announces plans to forgive the debt of the tsunami ravaged nations. (GM) (http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041231.wxcharity1231/BNStory/Technology/) (CTV) (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1104443723554_8?hub=Canada) (Ottawa Citizen) (http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=e8a2be9f-e24c-4ea4-9a23-93197c55bbc3)
- The US government pledges $350m for relief. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4138763.stm)
- In 48 hours British charities have raised £45m from public donations; the UK government increases its donation from £15m to £50m. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4136545.stm)
- Israeli-Palestinian Conflict:
- In Pakistan, president Pervez Musharraf announces that he will keep his additional role as an army chief. He had previously stated that he would give it up. (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7211848) (Pakistan Dawn) (http://www.dawn.com/2004/12/31/top1.htm) (Times of India) (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/976540.cms)
- North Korea announces that it may break off talks about the fate of the eight Japanese citizens it kidnapped in the 1980s. (Channel News Asia) (http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/125028/1/.html) (Mainichi Shimbun) (http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/news/20041230p2a00m0dm001000c.html) (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7211851)
- The cabinet of Spain approves the Zapatero administration's bill to legalize same-sex marriage. It will now go to the Cortes. [1] (http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2004/12/31/spain-samesex041231.html)
- Israeli-Palestinian Conflict:
- Nine Palestinians, including civilians, are killed in an Israeli army incursion into the Khan Younis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. During the raid the local Hamas commander is killed and two Israeli soldiers are slightly wounded. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4133833.stm) (Haaretz) (http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasen/spages/520846.html)
- Israel declares that a deal has been struck between Ariel Sharon and Shimon Peres to form a coalition government. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4134419.stm)
- In Sudan, the government and the rebel group SPLA have agreed to sign a ceasefire in Naiwasha on the road to a peace deal. The treaty would end the civil war that began in 1983. (IAfrica) (http://iafrica.com/news/worldnews/401287.htm) (News24) (http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1641704,00.html) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4134843.stm)
- The Ukrainian Central Election Commission rejects complaints of prime minister Viktor Yanukovych, who lost the presidential election. (Reuters) (http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7209338) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4134423.stm)
- In Spain, parliament of the Basque regions favors increasing autonomy and eventual negotiated independence (Independent Online) (http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=596987) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4136333.stm)
- A Dutch court hands down the country's first fines to spammers. (PCWorld) (http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,119089,00.asp) (DV Hardware) (http://www.dvhardware.net/article3751.html)
- In Senegal, President Abdoulaye Wade signs a peace deal with separatist rebels in the Casamance region. The war has lasted 22 years. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4133881.stm) (News24) (http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1640807,00.html)
- In Zimbabwe, four people are charged for selling secrets to unspecified foreign agents. They include former political allies to President Robert Mugabe. (Iafrica) (http://iafrica.com/news/worldnews/401151.htm) (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=646442)
- The death toll from the Indian Ocean Earthquake and subsequent tsunamis on December 26 reaches more than 120,000 in 12 countries from Malaysia to Somalia; the Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang reports a current total of 115,982 deaths. The Malaysian News Agency reports the death toll in Sumatra may exceed 400,000. According to the WHO, as many as five million people are at risk, with little water, food or shelter.
- The Canadian Food Inspection Agency reported what may be a second case of mad cow disease in a ten-year old dairy cow at the same time as the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced an end to their ban on imports of live Canadian cattle. (International Herald Tribune) (http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/12/30/news/cow.html) (Bloomberg) (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000082&sid=ahh.1Ntcc5aw&refer=canada)
- A fire in República Cromagnon, a nightclub in Buenos Aires, Argentina, kills 175 and injures 714. (Reuters) (http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7212476) (CNN) (http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/12/31/argentina.fire/index.html) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4136625.stm)
- The Shiveluch volcano on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula erupts, causing a large earthquake and producing a 6,500 foot plume of hot ash. (Russian Information Agency) (http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5260533&startrow=1&date=2004-12-28&do_alert=0) (Washington Times) (http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20041228-070521-2844r.htm) (KVERT) (http://www.avo.alaska.edu/avo4/updates/kvertweekly.htm) (webcam) (http://data.emsd.iks.ru/videosvl/videosvl.htm)
- Israeli-Palestinian conflict
- An Israeli unmanned drone attempts to kill two suspected Hamas militants in Khan Yunis allegedly on their way to launch an attack on Israelis in Gush Katif with mortar weapons.
- An Israeli tank fires a shell in Khan Yunis wounding at least nine Palestinians, including a 13-year-old boy. IDF officials say they were opening fire at the source of Qassam rockets fired by Palestinians that landed in Neve Dekalim. No injuries are reported from the Qassam rocket attacks. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4129803.stm) (Haaretz) (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/520289.html)
- Conflict in Iraq: In an apparent coordinated attack, insurgents raid a police station in Dijla and execute 12 police officers. Three Iraqi policemen are shot at a checkpoint outside of Tikrit. Four policemen and one national guardsman are gunned down at a police station in Ishaki. A local police commander is assassinated in Baquba. A car bomb detonated near a US-Iraqi military convoy in Samarra kills three national guardsmen and three civilians. All these attacks occured in the Sunni Triangle. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4129361.stm)
- The death toll from tsunamis resulting from the Indian Ocean Earthquake is known to be at least 59,000 and still rising. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4129371.stm)
- In Colombia, government soldiers search for at least seven people taken hostage by FARC rebels last Friday. Kidnappers have not made any demands as of yet. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4125455.stm)
- Ukrainian presidential election: Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych challenges the result of the re-run of the presidential election and threatens to take the case to the Supreme Court. (Guardian) (http://www.guardian.co.uk/ukraine/story/0,15569,1380269,00.html) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4129347.stm)
- A scrap metal plant, located in Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA, explodes. The blast is felt about 50 km away. The cause of the explosion, which occured at the Yaffe Iron and Metals plant, is unknown. [2] (http://www.recorder.ca/cp/World/041229/w122913A.html)
- In Mulhouse, France, a suspected gas explosion kills 17 people (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4127729.stm) (Scotsman) (http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3932794)
- Newly discovered observations from March 2004 rule out the possibility that asteroid 2004 MN4 will hit Earth in 2029. (Space.com) (http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/asteroid_update_B_041227.html)
- The U.S. dollar hits a new low against the euro: USD 1.3640 to EUR 1.00. (AP) (http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/041227/dollar_10.html)
- Ukrainian Transport Minister Heorhiy Kyrpa, a staunch supporter of Viktor Yanukovych, is found shot dead at his home just outside of Kiev. It is unclear whether he was murdered or committed suicide. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4129091.stm) (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7186760)
- Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Israeli police arrest Palestinian presidential candidate Mustafa Barghouti. A Jerusalem police spokesman says Mr Barghouti was "detained for questioning because he has the right to transit through Jerusalem but not be in Jerusalem itself". (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4128637.stm)
- The death toll from tsunamis resulting from the Indian Ocean earthquake is known to be at least 20,000 and possibly as high as 45,000. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4129233.stm) London Free Press (http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2004/12/28/799192-sun.html) Independent Online (http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=vn20041228090409981C961815)
- Ukrainian opposition presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko claims victory. Official results may not come out for days. (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7181594) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4127203.stm)
- Conflict in Iraq:
- The first survey of language use in the People's Republic of China reveals that 53% of its population can communicate in Standard Mandarin, the official spoken language of the country. (China Daily) (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-12/26/content_403419.htm)
- An earthquake of magnitude 9.0, the strongest earthquake in 40 years, strikes in the Indian Ocean off the western coast of Sumatra. While initial reports state that the resulting tsunamis killed approximately 100 people, by the end of the day this estimate has increased to over 14,000 people in coastal areas of Thailand, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, India, Bangladesh, Burma, Indonesia and Malaysia. Tremors are also felt as far as Singapore, eastern countries of Africa, and north-western Australia. A state of emergency is declared in Sri Lanka, where over 11,000 people are feared dead. (USGS) (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/recenteqsww/Quakes/usslav.htm) (CNN) (http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/12/26/asia.quake/index.html) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4125481.stm) (The Star) (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2004/12/26/latest/20333Earthquake&sec=latest) (Wikinews) (http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Strong_earthquake_in_South_East_Asia) (Channel News Asia) (http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/124091/1/.html) (The Times of India) (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/971314.cms)
- Ukrainians go to the polls in a rerun of the presidential runoff vote, supervised by about 12,000 international observers. Turnout is reported to be comparable to the two previous votes, just short of 55 percent at 1300 GMT. Early exit polls suggest opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko has won by a wide margin (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=644442) (Guardian) (http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1379873,00.html) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4125297.stm)
- Gambian journalists march in protest of the murder of Deyda Hydara, newspaper editor who had criticised new strict press legislation. UNESCO also condemns the killing. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4117189.stm) (UNESCO portal) (http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=17780&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html)
- Switzerland increases its financial support for the forthcoming re-run of election in Ukraine. (NZZ) (http://www.nzz.ch/2004/12/22/english/page-synd5421754.html)
- The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirm that the haul in last Monday's Northern Bank Belfast bank heist was £22 million, comprising £1.15 million in new Northern Bank £100 and £50 notes, £12 million in new Northern Bank £20 and £10 notes, £5 million in used Northern Ireland notes issued by various banks, and the remainder in other sterling banknotes. Since Northern Irish notes are rarely seen outside Northern Ireland, the gang may have difficulty in laundering most of their haul. (Scotsman) (http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3918845)
- Israeli-Palestinian conflict:
- The British charity organization Save the Children withdraws from Darfur after rebels kill their aid workers. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4113773.stm) (IAfrica) (http://iafrica.com/news/worldnews/400045.htm) (AllAfrica) (http://allafrica.com/stories/200412210439.html)
- The Indian election commission investigates railways minister Laloo Prasad for allegations of electoral bribery. He has given money to dalit women in public. (ExpressIndia) (http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=39891) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4113869.stm)
- A Pakistani court restores bail for Asif Ali Zardari. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4116957.stm) (GEO) (http://www.geo.tv/main_files/pakistan.aspx?id=55765)
- In Mozambique, the national election commission declares Armando Guebuza, presidential candidate of ruling party Frelimo, the winner of the election. He received 64% of the vote despite alleged irregularities. (AllAfrica) (http://allafrica.com/stories/200412210552.html) (Afrol) (http://www.afrol.com/articles/15086) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4115869.stm)
- In the Philippines, the funeral of Fernando Poe, Jr, movie star and presidential candidate, attracts large numbers of supporters. Security is high due to rumors of potential anti-government revolt. The detained ex-president Joseph Estrada condemns incumbent president Gloria Arroyo in his eulogy. (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7155426) (Philippine Daily Inquirer) (http://news.inq7.net/top/index.php?index=1&story_id=21991)
- European Union ministers postpone a controversial vote on the proposed Directive on the Patentability of Computer-Implemented Inventions in the EU after Poland asks for more time to think about it. (Reuters) (http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=7151457)(BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4116231.stm)
- The Boeing Delta 4 Heavy rocket launches successfully for the first time. (MSNBC) (http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6743383/)
- Conflict in Iraq:
- US forces say twenty-two people have been killed and at least 67 injured in an attack at a US military base in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. The dead include 13 US Soliders, making the attack one of the deadliest attacks on US forces since the start of the war. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4115145.stm) (CNN) (http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/12/22/iraq.main/index.html)
- Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, the two French hostages held in Iraq since August, are freed. Their captors claim they were freed because of France's anti-war stance. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4115975.stm)
- Former British Home Secretary David Blunkett's office is found to have assisted in the fast-tracking of his lover's nanny's visa-application, thereby confirming the allegation that led to his dismissal. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4112109.stm)
- The White House announces that allegations of abuse of prisoners in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay by US military personnel will be "fully investigated". The allegations were prompted by a memo, obtained by ACLU FOIA requests, dated two months after the Abu Ghraib scandal broke which reference an executive order that authorized questionable interrogation techniques. The White House spokesman flat out denied this in saying "there is no executive order on interrogation techniques". (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4116601.stm) (White House) (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/12/20041221-5.html) (ACLU) (http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=17216&c=206)
- Japan issues a tourist visa to former Taiwanese leader Lee Teng-hui despite protests from the People's Republic of China that such a move would harm bilateral relations. The PRC considers Lee a Taiwan independence agitator. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4113641.stm)
- Same-sex marriage in Canada: The Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador finds the banning of same-sex marriage unconstitutional, making that province the eighth of Canada's provinces and territories to legalize same-sex marriage. (CBC) (http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2004/12/21/samesex-newfoundland041221.html)
- Arab-Israeli Conflict: The leaders of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) urge US President George W. Bush to make the creation of an independent Palestinian state an absolute priority at their annual meeting, which is being held in Bahrain. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4114967.stm)
- UK Prime Minister Tony Blair makes a surprise visit to Baghdad. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4114027.stm) (Guardian) (http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1378109,00.html) (Number 10) (http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page6821.asp)
- Author J.K. Rowling announces that the sixth book in her Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, will be published on 16 July 2005. The share price of her British publisher, Bloomsbury, rises 7.5% on the news. (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=7148608)
- Up to £30 million are reported stolen from the headquarters of the Northern Bank in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Two members of the bank's senior staff and their families are reported to have been held hostage before the robbery. This is likely to be the second biggest bank robbery in British history, and the fourth largest in the world. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4114219.stm) (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=641911) (Glasgow Evening Times) (http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5033804.html)
- Pakistan's Anti Terrorism Court cancels the bail of Asif Ali Zardari, leader of the Pakistan People's Party and husband of Benazir Bhutto. Zardari was released last month after eight years in prison. He was charged with corruption and conspiracy to murder. (GEO) (http://www.geo.tv/main_files/pakistan.aspx?id=55557) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4113611.stm)
- A court in Chile upholds the indictment and house arrest of Augusto Pinochet. Prosecution lawyers claim that his hospitalization for a heart condition was a political ploy. Pinochet's lawyers intend to appeal. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4110415.stm) (Bloomberg) (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000086&sid=a5WlRBfG3AxQ&refer=latin_america)
- A court in Nigeria upholds the election of Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo. Opposition parties, led by Muhammadu Buhari, have challenged the result, and the EU and US question the election's validity. (AllAfrica) (http://allafrica.com/stories/200412170425.html) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4113421.stm) (Vanguard, Nigeria) (http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/headline/f121122004.html)
- A bus accident in Peru claims 49 lives and injures 15. (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=641682)
- Archaeologists in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, find the remains of a 7,500-year-old man on the island of Marawah. (Khaleej Times) (http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2004/December/theuae_December568.xml§ion=theuae) (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=641394)
- French President Jacques Chirac demands improved hospital security after two nurses are killed. A suspected mental patient was released. (Reuters Alertnet) (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L20233609.htm)
- The US government decides to settle a suit in which Hungarian Jews have demanded compensation for a train full of valuables the US Army took at the end of World War II. (Wired News) (http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=965012&tw=wn_wire_story) (New York Post) (http://www.nypost.com/news/worldnews/36944.htm)
- The USA pressures Iceland not to grant Bobby Fischer sanctuary. (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=peopleNews&storyID=7141906)
- Zahira Sheikh, a key witness in the Best Bakery case, is declared hostile by the prosecution after she goes back on her police statement during retrial of the case. (Times of India) (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/967163.cms) (Indian Express) (http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=61334)
- Analysts attribute a sharp drop in the price of crude oil to the unexpected outcome of the auction of Yukos' Siberian production unit yesterday. The value of the January futures contract fell 64 cents to $45.64 on the Nymex.
- China announces reforms to its legal system effective in 2005, including the introduction of jury trials and a 10% increase in the number of judges. Jurors will be elected to a five-year term, and must have at least two years' university education. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4111005.stm) (Xinhua) (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/20/content_2357202.htm)
- The Head of the Egyptian Coptic Christian Church, Pope Shenouda III, has gone into seclusion in a desert monastery to draw attention to grievances among Egyptian Christians. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4110861.stm)
- U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has admitted that he had used a machine to sign letters of condolence to relatives of more than 1,000 troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, but pledged to sign the letters personally in future. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4110091.stm)
- In Sudan, fighting has not stopped after a ceasefire between government troops and rebels. Although the government of Sudan has said that they have stopped the Darfur offensive, there are still reports of battles. Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail rules out any withdrawal from the positions government troops have taken. An observing African Union helicopter was shot at. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4109423.stm)(Iafrica) (http://iafrica.com/news/worldnews/399791.htm)
- Prachanda, leader of the Maoist guerillas in Nepal, announces his intention to disrupt elections if the government refuses to abolish the monarchy. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has given them until January 13, 2005 to begin peace talks. (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=641182)
- An explosion in a Chinese coal mine kills 14. (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=641213)(BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4110357.stm)
- Rice University computer scientists find a security hole in Google's desktop search program. (New York Times) (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/20/technology/20flaw.html)
- African National Congress of South Africa accuses U.S. officials covering up adverse side effects of AIDS medications. (Iafrica) (http://iafrica.com/news/sa/399707.htm) (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7130606)
- Police arrest former Miss World Yukta Mookhey's uncle, aunt and two cousins in a case of harassment for dowry. (Hindustan Times) (http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1162238,000900040001.htm) (Indian Express) (http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=39831) (Times of India) (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/966434.cms)
- Rumaisa Rahman, the smallest baby ever to be born according to medical records, and her twin sister Hiba, are announced to have been born in a Chicago hospital.(AOL) (http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20041221090109990003)
- Hundreds of Sikh demonstrators protest outside a Birmingham, England theatre against a play (Behzti) depicting sex abuse and murder in a Sikh temple. Theatre stormed by a few demonstrators. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/4107437.stm)
- 2004 U.S. presidential election controversy:
- Voting machine manufacturer Diebold will pay a $2.6 million settlement to the State of California over the lawsuit filed by the state in September alleging that Diebold was not truthful about the security and reliability of its electronic voting machines. (internetnews.com) (http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3449691?headline=Diebold~to~Settle~with~California)
- In a sharp change from their traditional role, several members of the U.S. Electoral College have filed a protest of the official election results, one even casting his electoral vote "provisionally" upon a revote. These electors have called for a member of the U.S. Senate to protest the election results on January 6th. (AP) (http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=85214) (Sacramento Bee) (http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/nation/story/11763513p-12648443c.html) (Burlington Union) (http://www2.townonline.com/burlington/opinion/view.bg?articleid=145457)
- In Topeka, Kansas, USA, infant Victoria Jo Stinnett is returned to her father three days after her mother was allegedly strangled to death and she was cut from her mother's uterus and abducted. The AMBER Alert system is credited with helping to safely recover the child. (CNN) (http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/12/18/missouri.fetus/)
- Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
- Palestinians fire several Qassam rockets at the civilian town Sderot and the northern Negev, causing damage but no casualties. (Haaretz) (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/515606.html)
- Another three Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers on Saturday during an Israeli incursion into the Khan Younis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, raising the death toll to 11. According to Palestinian sources, three of those killed were civilians, the rest were militants from Hamas and Fatah's Abu Reish Brigades. The IDF has officially ended Khan Yunis raid, dubbed "Operation Orange Iron", and threatened to return if mortar shelling will be renewed by militants. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4107391.stm) , (Haaretz) (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/515606.html)
- Palestinians have been unable to bury the dead because Israeli forces were in control at the local cemetery, medics told the Reuters news agency. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4107391.stm)
- Six Palestinians were rescued from a collapsed tunnel under an Israel-controll
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