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Wikipedians look back on the year 2004. We welcome you to take part!

December 31, 2004

• Indonesia's ambassador to Colombia extradites FARC leader Simón Trinidad to the 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 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:
  • At least two Palestinians are killed when an Israeli aircraft fires a missile at the Khan Younis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4136631.stm)
  • A 16-year-old Palestinian boy dies after being shot in Rafah, near the border with Egypt. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4136631.stm)
• In Pakistan, president 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)

December 30, 2004

• 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)

December 29, 2004

• The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) announces its support for Mustafa Al-Barghouti in the 2005 Palestinian presidential election. (Al Jazeera) (http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/25954A52_1F62_41CC_80AF_DCA399EE6CE7.htm) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle-east/4132663.stm)
• For the fifth straight business day, the U.S. dollar hits a new low against the euro: 1.3646 USD to 1 EUR. (AP) (http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/041229/dollar_8.html)
• 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
  • The death toll from the Indian Ocean Earthquake and subsequent tsunamis on December 26 reaches more than 80,000. (washingtonpost.com) (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/world/daily/graphics/tsunami_122804.html)
  • The Red Cross issues a statement saying that the number of dead is likely to rise above 100,000. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4132725.stm)
  • The United States, Japan and India have formed an international coalition to lead aid efforts after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4133005.stm)
• Arab-Israeli Conflict: The Knesset passes a law against Israel the right to confiscate property and funds of any perceived terrorist organization, even though if they do not target Israel or Israelis. The law is part of the state's legal Russian parliament passes a law abolishing several state holidays, including November 7, the anniversary of the 1917 October Revolution. (CNN) (http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/12/27/russia.holiday.ap/index.html)
• In Uganda, tribal leaders are trying to set up a meeting between the government and the Lord's Resistance Army. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4130055.stm)
• Colombian police announce that they have apprehended Dagoberto Flores Rios, a member of the Norte del Valle drug cartel. The United States government had offered a $5 million reward for his capture. (Jamaica Observer) (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20041228T210000-0500_72223_OBS_US_MOST_WANTED_DRUG_DEALER_HELD_IN_BOGOTA.asp) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4131331.stm)
• The Russian Aviation and Space Agency says that as of 2006, it will charge the U.S. for transporting astronauts to the International Space Station. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4131363.stm)

December 28, 2004

• 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)

December 27, 2004

• 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 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:
  • Iraq's main Sunni political movement, the Iraqi Islamic Party, withdraws from next month's general elections, citing the refusal to delay elections until all parts of Iraq could participate. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4127623.stm)
  • 15 people are killed and dozens injured as a suicide bomber detonates his car in front of the the home of Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, head of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, the country's most powerful Shia political group. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4127279.stm)

December 26, 2004

• 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 Sri Lanka, the India, Burma, 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)

December 25, 2004

• Colombia's FARC guerrillas kidnap a group of between seven and ten holidaymakers from a spa resort near San Rafael, Antioquia. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4125455.stm)
• The ESA's Huygens probe separates from NASA's Cassini spacecraft at approximately 02:00 UTC, with deployment confirmed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The probe will reach Saturn's moon Titan in 22 days, where it will make an atmospheric descent to the surface and relay scientific information. (Spaceflightnow) (http://spaceflightnow.com/cassini/041224huygens.html)
• Queen Elizabeth II sends her annual Christmas Message to the UK and the Commonwealth. Her theme is religious and cultural diversity and the benefits of a tolerant society. In a break from tradition, the Queen also sends a special radio Christmas Message to the UK armed forces – the first time she has made a separate radio broadcast. (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4125011.stm) (BBC) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4125193.stm)

December 24, 2004

• 400 m asteroid 2004 MN₄ is estimated to have a roughly one-in-forty chance of colliding with Earth in 2029. Its Torino scale rating is 4. (Space.com) (http://space.com/scienceastronomy/asteroid_risk_041224.html) (SpaceRef.com) (http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=14887)
• The government of Indonesia announces a criminal investigation of five executives from Newmont Mining Corp., the world's largest gold mining company, based in Denver, Colorado, USA, on charges related to heavy-metal pollution. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apasia_story.asp?category=1104&slug=Indonesia%20Mining%20Pollution)