June 25, 2004 (Friday)
- After Siemens AG threatens to move thousands of jobs from North Rhine-Westphalia to Hungary, IG Metall (a trade union) agrees to a 40-hour work week for the same pay they currently receive for working 35. The agreement reduces by €5 the cost of each Siemens mobile phone manufactured under the new agreement. IG Metall workers had enjoyed the 35-hour work week since 1984. (Deutsche Welle) (IHT)
- Republican Jack Ryan withdraws from the contest for U.S. Senate seat from Illinois under pressure from the party amid allegations that he took his ex-wife, actress Jeri Ryan, to some sex clubs. (Reuters) Archived 2004-08-04 at archive.today
- British Attorney General Lord Goldsmith says that he is "unable to accept" that the U.S. military tribunals will yield a fair trial for prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (Scotsman) (BBC)
- In an open letter, Ralph Nader warns Canadians against voting for the Conservative Party in the federal election on June 28, 2004. (CBC)
- A treasured guitar owned by Eric Clapton fetches a record USD $959,500 at a charity auction. (BBC)
- The government of Norway, the third-largest petroleum-exporting nation, ends a week-long oil workers' strike by imposing wage and pension terms on the contending sides. (The Street.com)