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Major Events of October 2004: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from October 2004 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of October 2004: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Oct 2004 Ichiro Suzuki Breaks MLB Hit Record: Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners made history by breaking the major league record for hits in a single season, achieving his 258th hit and surpassing George Sisler's 84-year-old record.
  • 02 Oct 2004 Israel Establishes Gaza Buffer Zone: The Israeli military initiated an operation to create a 5.5-mile buffer zone in northern Gaza Strip, claiming it was necessary to protect against Qassam missile attacks with similar range.
  • 03 Oct 2004 Civilian Casualties in Gaza Israeli Raids: During Israeli raids on Jabaliya in the Gaza Strip, at least four civilians were killed, including a deaf man and three children. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stated that the Gaza operation would continue until Qassam rocket strikes ceased. Over 60 Palestinian civilians had been killed in the ongoing offensive.
  • 04 Oct 2004 Richard Axel, Linda B. Buck and Linda B. Buck were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in Physiology or Medicine in recognition of their contributions to the discovery of odorant receptors.
  • 05 Oct 2004 Iran Extends Missile Range: Iran announces modifications to its Shahab-3 missile, increasing its range from 810 to 1,250 miles, enabling potential strikes on parts of Europe and the Middle East for the first time.
  • 06 Oct 2004 No WMDs Found in Iraq: Major Intelligence Failure: Charles Duelfer, the head of the Iraq Survey Group, testified before the US Senate Armed Services Committee that no evidence existed of Iraq producing weapons of mass destruction after 1991, directly contradicting the primary justification for the 2003 Iraq invasion by President George W. Bush.
  • 07 Oct 2004 UN Warns of Gaza Humanitarian Crisis: A special UN report highlights the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, predicting that 72.5% of Palestinians will live in poverty by the end of 2006, exacerbated by Israeli restrictions on emergency aid and ongoing conflict.
  • 08 Oct 2004 Wangari Maathai Wins Nobel Peace Prize: Kenyan political and environmental activist Wangari Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, recognizing her groundbreaking contributions to sustainable development, democracy, and peace. She was the first African woman to receive this prestigious honor.
  • 09 Oct 2004 Afghanistan's First Democratic Presidential Election: Afghanistan conducted its inaugural direct presidential election, with interim president Hamid Karzai ultimately emerging as the winner, representing a pivotal moment in the country's democratic transition following the fall of the Taliban.
  • 10 Oct 2004 Baghdad Car Bomb Attack: Two car bombs exploded in Baghdad, resulting in at least 10 fatalities and 17 injuries, including a US soldier, highlighting the ongoing violence in Iraq during the conflict.
  • 11 Oct 2004 Violent Attacks in Iraq: In Baghdad and Mosul, multiple attacks targeted US military personnel. A rocket attack killed two US soldiers and injured five, while a suicide car bombing near a US military convoy resulted in one soldier and two Iraqi civilians killed, with 27 additional injuries.
  • 12 Oct 2004 Palestinian Schoolgirl Killed in Gaza: Ghadir Mokheimer, an 11-year-old Palestinian schoolgirl, is critically wounded by Israeli soldiers' gunfire near her school in Gaza Strip. She dies the following day. The Israeli army claims the shooting was in response to mortar attacks.
  • 13 Oct 2004 Final 2004 U.S. Presidential Debate: Senator John Kerry and President George W. Bush met at Arizona State University in Tempe for the third and final presidential debate of the 2004 election campaign, discussing critical national issues and presenting their contrasting political visions.
  • 14 Oct 2004 Bomb Attacks in Baghdad's Green Zone: Insurgents conducted two bomb attacks within Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, targeting U.S. military installations and offices. The attacks resulted in six Iraqi and four American casualties, with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's Jihad and Tawhid group claiming responsibility.
  • 15 Oct 2004 Darfur Humanitarian Crisis: A United Nations official reported that approximately 70,000 people had died in the Darfur region since March, highlighting the severe humanitarian crisis and ongoing conflict in the region.
  • 16 Oct 2004 Lionel Messi's FC Barcelona League Debut: 17-year-old Lionel Messi makes his historic league debut for FC Barcelona, playing in a 1-0 victory against local rivals Espanyol at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, marking the beginning of what would become an legendary football career.
  • 17 Oct 2004 Indonesia's First Democratically Elected President: Susilo Yudhoyono was elected as the first democratically chosen President of Indonesia, marking a significant milestone in the country's political development.
  • 18 Oct 2004 2004 U.S. Presidential Election Early Voting: Early voting commenced in Florida and ten additional U.S. states for the 2004 Presidential Election, with the official election day scheduled for November 2.
  • 19 Oct 2004 Strategic Institute Report on Iraq Invasion: The International Institute for Strategic Studies released its annual report suggesting that the US-led invasion and occupation of Iraq might have increased terrorist risks in the short term, providing a critical analysis of the conflict's geopolitical implications.
  • 20 Oct 2004 Abu Ghraib Prisoner Abuse Scandal: U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Ivan Frederick pleads guilty to multiple charges related to the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal, including conspiracy, neglect of duty, maltreatment of detainees, assault, and committing indecent acts.
  • 21 Oct 2004 Human Genome Project Gene Count Revision: The Human Genome Project revised its estimate of human genes, now suggesting between 20,000 and 25,000 genes, approximately 30% fewer than previous estimates. This significant scientific update refined our understanding of human genetic complexity.
  • 22 Oct 2004 U.S. Airstrike Near Fallujah: United States Air Force aircraft conducted a strike on suspected weapons dumps near Fallujah, Iraq. According to local hospital officials, the operation resulted in seven fatalities and three injuries.
  • 23 Oct 2004 Michael Schumacher's Record-Breaking Championship: Michael Schumacher won his 7th Formula One World Drivers Championship, achieving an unprecedented 5th consecutive title and solidifying his status as the most successful Formula One driver in history.
  • 24 Oct 2004 Brutal Attack on Iraqi Army Recruits: In a horrific incident, 49 unarmed Iraqi Army recruits were attacked, forcibly removed from their vehicles, and systematically executed. Terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi claimed responsibility, labeling the victims as apostates.
  • 25 Oct 2004 US Congressional Gold Medal Honors Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King: The United States Congress awarded the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife Coretta Scott King, recognizing their monumental contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and social justice in America.
  • 26 Oct 2004 Israeli Settlement Withdrawal Plan: The Israeli Knesset approved Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's controversial plan to withdraw from 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip and four in the West Bank, sparking internal political tensions with potential ministerial resignations.
  • 27 Oct 2004 Boston Red Sox Win World Series: The Boston Red Sox won American baseball's World Series for the first time since 1918, defeating the Saint Louis Cardinals in four games. Curt Schilling became the first starting pitcher to win a World Series for three different teams.
  • 28 Oct 2004 Broward County Absentee Ballot Controversy in 2004 U.S. Election: Broward County election officials reported that over 50,000 absentee ballots for the upcoming U.S. Presidential election were unaccounted for. While 60,000 absentee ballots were initially sent out, only 2,000 had been received, raising significant concerns about potential electoral irregularities.
  • 29 Oct 2004 Osama bin Laden Admits 9/11 Responsibility: Al Jazeera broadcasts an excerpt from a 2004 Osama bin Laden video in which the terrorist leader first admits direct responsibility for the September 11, 2001 attacks and references the 2004 U.S. presidential election. In the video, bin Laden addresses U.S. citizens, criticizes U.S. foreign policy, and suggests that American security is not dependent on specific political candidates.
  • 30 Oct 2004 US Marines Casualties in Iraq: In a tragic incident near Falluja, eight US Marines were killed and nine others injured during ongoing conflict in Iraq, as reported by BBC and Reuters.
  • 31 Oct 2004 George W. Bush Re-elected as US President: Incumbent President George W. Bush wins re-election, securing a second term in the 2004 United States Presidential Election.