2003

August 2019 2003 Portal:Current events/ border:none;b 3/3/3 ColumbiaFLIR2003.png SaddamStatue.jpg London anti-war protest banners.jpg 中国空间站建造“1+1=1”2 (9x8 cropped).png Darfur report - Page 5 Image 1 (3x2 cropped).jpg زلزله بم، ۱۳۸۲ (02).jpg Myspace.svg Nevers loire canicule 2003 05.jpg Human coronavirus 229E.png 350 From top to bottom, left to right: The crew of STS-107 perish when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates during reentry into Earth's atmosphere; United States and allies invade Iraq, disposing Saddam Hussein's regime, later the war evolved into an Islamist insurgency; A Protest against the Iraq war in London; Yang Liwei entered low Earth orbit aboard Shenzhou 5, China became the third country in the world to have independent human spaceflight capability; The Darfur Genocide is carried out by the Sudanese government; Destruction in Bam, Iran following an earthquake where over 30,000 people died; Myspace becomes one of the first major social media platforms; A drained river in France during the European heatwave; The 2002–2004 SARS outbreak in China becomes an epidemic. 2003 2003 2003 The year 2003 was marked by the United States invasion of Iraq and the subsequent period of occupation and insurgency. The Kashmir conflict also saw a period of escalation, and the Second Intifada continued in Israel and Palestine. The global economy recovered from the early 2000s recession, especially in China, Japan, and the United States, and Argentina recovered from its years-long economic crisis. A conference of World Trade Organization members caused diplomatic conflict between developing and developed nations, with the former creating their own trade bloc, the G20 developing nations. The Catholic Church celebrated the 25th anniversary of the election of Pope John Paul II, while disputes about gay rights emerged within several Christian denominations in 2003. The Islamic world faced crisis as the war on terror and Islamic terrorism prompted religious leaders to define Islam's identity. Elsewhere in the world, ten nations were approved for membership to the European Union, North Korea restarted its nuclear weapons program, and several political leaders were convicted in the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and for the former Yugoslavia. The International Criminal Court also began operation in 2003. The 110th element of the periodic table was officially named darmstadtium (Ds) in 2003. The Human Genome Project announced that it had finished mapping the human genome, while controversies regarding human cloning and genetically modified crops caused political turmoil around the scientific community. A new dinosaur, Rajasaurus narmadensis, was described. Space travel was affected by the explosion of the Space Shuttle Columbia that killed seven astronauts, while a close approach from Mars allowed several landers and rovers to be launched toward the planet. Consumers saw the launch of the iTunes Store and the publication of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, while products like camera phones, 64-bit computers, LCD television, and broadband internet achieved widespread popularity. Email spam became a growing problem in 2003, leading to legislation in several countries. The year 2003 tied with 2002 as the second-hottest year on record. SARS became an epidemic for several months in 2003, centered in Guangdong and Hong Kong, while concerns about polio and measles outbreaks in West Africa and Uganda, respectively, led to massive child vaccination drives that saw entire populations inoculated. The city of Bam, Iran, was almost entirely destroyed in 2003 following a magnitude 6.6 earthquake. 2 Population The world population on January 1, 2003, was estimated to be 6.272 billion people and increased to 6.353 billion people by January 1, 2004.https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/MostUsed/ World Population Prospects 2022 2022 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs October 6, 2023 July 11, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220711213112/https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/MostUsed/ live An estimated 134.0 million births and 52.5 million deaths took place in 2003. The average global life expectancy was 67.1 years, an increase of 0.3 years from 2002. There were approximately 10.6 million global refugees at the beginning of 2003, and the number was reduced to 9.7 million refugees by the end of the year.https://www.unhcr.org/statistics/unhcrstats/40d015fb4/2003-global-refugee-trends-overview-refugee-populations-new-arrivals-durable.html 2003 Global Refugee Trends 15 June 2004 UNHCR October 6, 2023 October 12, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231012033657/https://www.unhcr.org/statistics/unhcrstats/40d015fb4/2003-global-refugee-trends-overview-refugee-populations-new-arrivals-durable.html live Afghanistan was the largest source of refugees, with a total of 2.1 million at the end of the year. Conflicts Category:2003 conflicts thumb|American and West African soldiers were deployed in Liberia as a joint task force in the Second Liberian Civil War. There were 29 armed conflicts with at least 25 fatalities in 2003.Eriksson Mikael Wallensteen Peter 2004 Armed Conflict, 1989–2003 http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0022343304047568 Journal of Peace Research en 41 5 625–636 10.1177/0022343304047568 111915843 0022-3433 October 12, 2023 October 14, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231014060453/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0022343304047568 live subscription 625 The deadliest conflicts were the invasion of Iraq, the Kashmir insurgency, the Second Liberian Civil War, the Nepalese Civil War, and the War in Darfur.627 The European Union engaged in its first military operation when it sent peacekeepers to Macedonia and its first operation outside of Europe when it sent 1,500 soldiers to enforce a ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of the Congo until operations were taken over by the UN mission MONUSCO. NATO launched its first operation outside of Europe or North America when it took command of the International Security Assistance Force in the fight against the Taliban insurgency.250–251 ECOWAS peacekeepers and American marines were deployed to Liberia when civil war resumed in August, until the United Nations Mission in Liberia took over operations in September.251 Internal conflicts Multiple civil wars were ongoing in Africa. The First Ivorian Civil War was halted in 2003 amid a ceasefire while France and the states of ECOWAS intervened. Peace talks fell apart on March 7 until the ceasefire was restored on May 3, only to be broken again on September 23. The war was left in a frozen state at the end of 2003 with rebels controlling parts of the country.Dwan Renata SIPRI Yearbook 2004: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security Gustavsson Micaela Stockholm International Peace Research Institute 2004 978-0-19-926570-1 95–131 en Major armed conflicts October 12, 2023 https://www.sipri.org/yearbook/2003/02 https://web.archive.org/web/20230328204444/https://www.sipri.org/yearbook/2003/02 March 28, 2023 live115–116 The Second Liberian Civil War against Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy escalated when the Movement for Democracy in Liberia split off as its own faction.116 President Charles Taylor resigned on August 2, allowing a peace agreement to take place on August 18.118 The Second Sudanese Civil War escalated as new militant groups joined the conflict,628 though a security agreement was reached between the National Islamic Front and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement on September 25.119 The Indonesian insurgency in Aceh escalated when a demilitarization agreement failed and the government renewed its offensive in May.126 Indonesia declared martial law and launched an attack against the Free Aceh Movement, killing at least 1,100 and capturing another 2,000 out of the movement's total 5,000 members.250 The Moro conflict in the Philippines deescalated when the Philippine government agreed to peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in July, though conflicts with other groups continued.129 A truce between Nepal and Maoist rebels held until conflict resumed in August. Australia deployed 2,000 soldiers to the Solomon Islands in July as a response to internal unrest.250 The Sri Lankan civil war continued in 2003 as peace talks failed, and long-running civil wars in Burundi and in Uganda both escalated.107–112 Agreements were reached in the second Second Congo War for rebels and foreign soldiers to end hostilities.101629 The Colombian conflict against two Marxist militant groups—the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and the National Liberation Army—escalated in 2003.101 The government negotiated an agreement for the right-wing militant group United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia to disband as a means to deescalate the conflict.102 The Second Chechen War continued in Russia: the Russian government held a referendum for a new Chechen constitution and offered amnesty for Chechen rebels, but terror attacks continued.125 International conflicts thumb|The government of Saddam Hussein was toppled following the invasion of Iraq. A coalition of countries led by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia led an invasion of Iraq beginning on March 20, warning that Iraq had been operating a program to develop weapons of mass destruction. The subsequent Iraq War became the most publicized conflict in 2003.627–628 The coalition quickly defeated the Iraqi Armed Forces, and American president George W. Bush gave a speech on May 1 declaring victory in the war.https://archive.org/details/annualregisterof0000unse_s9x7/ The Annual Register 2003 Keesing's Worldwide 2003 1-886994-47-1 Lewis D. S. 2452 The subsequent Iraqi insurgency proved more deadly than the invasion by the end of the year.3 The most significant insurgency action was a bombing on August 19 that targeted United Nations personnel in Baghdad, killing UN Special Representative Sérgio Vieira de Mello among many others.209 Doubts were raised throughout the year whether Iraq had been developing the weapons of which it was accused.3 The Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan slowed until a bombing in Mumbai killed 52 people.250 A ceasefire took effect on November 23.95 The Second Intifada continued into 2003 as conflict between Israel and Palestine killed 400 people in suicide bombings by Palestinians and military strikes by the Israel Defense Forces.104 Israel constructed the West Bank barrier, which it described as a measure to prevent suicide bombings and Palestine described as a measure to impose segregation.https://archive.org/details/timeannual200400newy/ Time Annual 2004 Time Books 2004 1-931933-89-8 Knauer Kelly 1097-572176 Israel also launched bombings against Lebanon and Syria following attacks in Israel.250 Al-Qaeda remained active in the Middle East, launching suicide bombings in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, as well as Morocco in North Africa. On September 10, its leaders Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri released their first video statement since 2001, celebrating the September 11 attacks. Al-Qaeda figures Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Riduan Isamuddin were captured in March and August, respectively.74 Culture Art and architecture 2003 in art 2003 in architecture thumb|The Amber Room of Catherine Palace was reconstructed in 2003. The most widely publicized art exhibition in 2003 was the 50th Venice Biennale,157 while the most heavily attended exhibitions were for Leonardo da Vinci and Thomas Struth, both held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art where they attracted thousands of visitors each day.525 The "Rembrandt's Journey" collected various Rembrandt works, including etchings and drawings, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.159 The 7000 Years of Persian Art tour took place as a rare international collaboration from the National Museum of Iran.525 Street photography made a return in the art community, and the International Center of Photography held an exhibition on the subject.160 Elsewhere in the art world, Descent into Limbo by Andrea Mantegna was the most prominent Old Master artwork to be sold in 2003, going for US$28.6 million526 and the government of the Netherlands began returning items from its collection of works it acquired from Nazi Germany, the Nederlands Kunstbezit-collectie.526 Economic hardship and geopolitical events prompted a global shift toward affordable popular fashion, including a surge of face masks with fake brand logos that became popular in Hong Kong during the SARS epidemic.200 Plans to replace the World Trade Center remained a focus of the architecture world in 2003, with architects David Childs and Daniel Libeskind placed in charge of the project. Other developments in architecture included an inquiry into the ongoing construction of the Scottish Parliament Building when its expected cost increased tenfold,527 and concern that Athens would not be ready to host the 2004 Summer Olympics when construction of the Olympic Stadium of Athens slowed.528 New buildings that opened in 2003 included the Silodam housing complex in Amsterdam,154 the Albertina art museum in Vienna after a previous closure, the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore,525 and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles after sixteen years of development.153 The Gherkin finished construction in London,154 and the Amber Room of Catherine Palace, which existed from 1717 to 1945, finished reconstruction.525 Museums and libraries were looted and burned during riots in Baghdad following the invasion of Iraq.2212 About 10,000 items were taken from the Iraq Museum, though many were returned by the end of the year, and several items were taken from the Mosul Museum. The Iraq National Library and Archive was burned down, destroying 500,000 books and 12 million Ottoman documents. The lost treasure of Tillya Tepe was found to be in Saddam Hussein's possession.524 Media 2003 in film 2003 in music 2003 in video games The highest-grossing films globally in 2003 were The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Finding Nemo, and The Matrix Reloaded, while the highest-grossing non-English film was Bayside Shakedown 2 (Japanese), the 39th highest-grossing film of the year.2003 Worldwide Box Office https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/world/2003/ Box Office Mojo October 12, 2023 November 13, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231113213708/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/world/2003/ live Critically acclaimed films included Finding Nemo,Ebert Roger Best 10 Movies of 2003 Roger Ebert Roger Ebert https://www.rogerebert.com/roger-ebert/best-10-movies-of-2003 2023-10-12 rogerebert.com December 19, 2012 en October 14, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231014060452/https://www.rogerebert.com/roger-ebert/best-10-movies-of-2003 live Scott A. O. 2003-12-28 FILM: THE HIGHS; The Movies of the Year en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/28/movies/film-the-highs-the-movies-of-the-year-687170.html 2023-10-12 0362-4331 October 14, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231014060451/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/28/movies/film-the-highs-the-movies-of-the-year-687170.html live The 21st Century's 100 greatest films https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films 2023-10-12 BBC August 23, 2016 en August 17, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210817230650/https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films live French Philip 2003-12-28 Ring in the new en-GB The Observer https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/dec/28/2003inreview.features 2023-10-12 0029-7712 October 14, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231014060452/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/dec/28/2003inreview.features live Lost in Translation,2004-01-14 The Year In Film: 2003 https://www.avclub.com/the-year-in-film-2003-1798208331 2023-10-12 The A.V. Club en October 14, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231014060451/https://www.avclub.com/the-year-in-film-2003-1798208331 live and Master and Commander. Music sales in 2003 amounted to about 2.7 billion units, a decline of 6.5% from 2002. DVD music video thrived in 2003 at the expense of singles and cassettes.http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/worldsales2003.pdf The Recording Industry World Sales 2004 IFPI https://web.archive.org/web/20120731044902/http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/worldsales2003.pdf 2012-07-31 CD sales overall saw a large decline in favor of internet downloads.162 Globally, the best-selling albums of the year were Come Away with Me by Norah Jones, Get Rich or Die Tryin' by 50 Cent, and Meteora by Linkin Park. No non-English albums were among the global top fifty albums sold in 2003.2000-2005 Top 50 Albums [XLS] https://www.ifpi.org/content/library/top-5-albums-2000-2005.xls https://web.archive.org/web/20120323114337/http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/top-5-albums-2000-2005.xls 2012-03-23 IFPI The opera industry was negatively affected by a decline in tourism and other economic factors in Europe and North America, and many productions were canceled.505 The popularity of the Harry Potter franchise meant that the publication of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was the largest literary event in 2003, bringing significant growth to the publishing and bookseller industries.529244–245 The Daily Sun launched and became an immediate success in South Africa as a newspaper targeted toward black audiences as recovery from Apartheid continued.243 Former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori began a radio show, The Chino's Hour, from exile in Japan.242 The television programs Queer Eye and Saudi Women Speak Out provided unprecedented media outlets for American gay men and Saudi women, respectively. Also successful in 2003 was the Taiwanese soap opera Liow sing hua yen.240–241 The GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox remained the most popular video game consoles, although the GameCube faced poor sales. Nokia introduced the N-Gage, which functioned as both a phone and a handheld game console.168 Through the internet, flash mobs developed as a social trend in 2003.168 When decentralized peer-to-peer file sharing replaced the centralized platform Napster as a means to pirate music, the Recording Industry Association of America began directing legal action against individual users who uploaded pirated songs rather than the platforms themselves, filing a total of 382 lawsuits.483 The iTunes Store launched on April 28 and was immediately successful, selling over 10 million songs over the next four months.87 This was touted as a possible solution to music piracy.483 Sports 2003 in sports thumb|The England national rugby union team won the 2003 Rugby World Cup. The England national rugby union team won the 2003 Rugby World Cup, making them the first Northern Hemisphere team to do so.534 Australia won the 2003 Cricket World Cup, coming out victorious in every match they played, while Kenya had upset victories that took them to the semi-finals.535 In tennis, players Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, and Juan Carlos Ferrero won their first Grand Slams in 2003,2003 World Sports Highlights https://www.topendsports.com/world/timeline/2003.htm 2023-10-12 Top End Sports October 14, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231014060453/https://www.topendsports.com/world/timeline/2003.htm live 538 while Martina Navratilova tied with the record of twenty Wimbledon titles set by Billie Jean King.539 Lennox Lewis successfully defended his status as the heavyweight boxing champion against Vitali Klitschko.540 In football, the transfer of footballer David Beckham from Manchester United F.C. to Real Madrid CF for £17.25 million was widely publicized. The UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying took place in 2003, where Turkey's defeat in a game against Latvia came as an upset after Turkey had been semi-finalists in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.533 The 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup was held in the United States after being moved from China due to a SARS outbreak; Germany won their first title after they defeated Sweden.307 Other major sporting upsets took place in golf when Ben Curtis defeated some of the sport's top players in his first major competition at the 2003 Open Championship,539 and in Major League Baseball when the Florida Marlins defeated the New York Yankees in the 2003 World Series.541 The 2003 World Championships in Athletics saw Hicham El Guerrouj become the fourth man to win four successive world track titles and Carolina Klüft become the first woman in seven years to score more than 7,000 points in the heptathlon. Athletics was plagued with the discovery of THG steroids, which the United States accused the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative of providing to athletes.537 Michael Schumacher remained the dominant driver in the 2003 Formula One World Championship, winning 11 of 17 races and claiming his sixth championship.539 Lance Armstrong won the 2003 Tour de France, giving him his fifth victory.540 Economy 2003 in economic history The global economy was weak in the first half of 2003 as uncertainty arose from Middle Eastern conflict, the spread of SARS, and major corporate scandals of the previous year.9 It improved in the second half of 2003 with recovery from the early 2000s recession, remedied by low interest rates and expansionary fiscal policy. The gross world product increased in total by 2.5% in 2003, and international trade increased by 4.75%. The United States led the recovery, while China and Japan also made significant contributions. The economic situation improved in Latin America and Africa, while Western Europe saw slower recovery.https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/publication/world-economic-situation-and-prospects-2004/ World Economic Situation and Prospects 2004 2004-01-08 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs 1 978-92-1-109146-5 October 26, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20211128023925/https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/publication/world-economic-situation-and-prospects-2004/ November 28, 2021 live The Eurozone had a low GDP growth of 0.5%.12 Questions arose around the Eurozone as the British economy fared better than those which had adopted the euro, and a referendum in Sweden showed strong opposition to the euro's adoption.351 Developing countries did especially well with a growth rate of 5%, compared to the 1.8% growth in developed countries.173 Argentina emerged from its economic crisis after four years, reaching the year's highest GDP in the Western Hemisphere with 7% growth.11 The invasion of Iraq caused markets to fluctuate, first through a significant increase and then a decline as the war's financial cost became apparent and the 2003 Istanbul bombings shocked the economy.177 Petroleum prices fell after the invasion of Iraq concluded and rose again following an announcement that OPEC would reduce its output.182 The prices of non-fuel commodities, such as metal, minerals, and agricultural materials, increased during the year. Gold, copper, nickel, and aluminum all saw increases in value.182 The airline industry began a slow recovery from the serious decline it faced after the September 11 attacks.182 Foreign direct investment became a global economic priority when it began to falter, with 70 countries implementing at least one new law in attempts to improve the situation.173 In the corporate world, the Italian food company Parmalat and the Dutch supermarket company Ahold were the subjects of major corporate scandals.12 These were the latest among a series of corporate corruption scandals over the previous years that led the United States and a coalition of European countries to reform their policies on the matter.15 Potential mergers and acquisitions in the media industry were a topic of discussion in 2003. Protestors in the United States objected to loosening of Federal Communications Commission regulations around television station ownership, causing the US Congress and the courts to overrule the changes. American company Liberty Media acquired UnitedGlobalCom and purchased shares in QVC to reach 98% ownership.239 HKATV CEO Chan Wing-kee purchased shares in HKATV in Hong Kong so that he had half ownership, while Hong Kong businessman Li Ka-shing purchased 64% of China Entertainment Television.240 A merger between TCL Electronics and Thomson created the world's largest television set manufacturer.241 The largest purchase of the newspaper industry in 2003 occurred when John Fairfax Holdings of Australia acquired Independent Newspapers of New Zealand, while a merger also took place between Denmark's two largest newspapers, Jyllands-Posten and Politiken.243 Environment and weather 2003 in the environment List of earthquakes in 2003 Tropical cyclones in 2003 thumb|The city of Bam, Iran was destroyed in 2003 by an earthquake. The year 2003 tied with 2002 as the second hottest year on record, behind only 1998. The year began during an El Niño period that continued until April. A major heatwave occurred in Europe during the summer, causing approximately 70,000 deaths, 14,000 of which were in France. Severe cold weather affected Asia, North America, and Peru. Low precipitation caused droughts in Australia, the United States, and Zimbabwe, but the previous year's droughts in Asia were alleviated by heavy precipitation in the region.https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/global/200313 Annual 2003 Global Climate Report 2004 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2023-10-26 October 26, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231026144252/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/global/200313 live Several reports were published in 2003 forecasting severe negative effects of global warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change determined that approximately one million species risked extinction if no preventative measures were implemented, and the World Wide Fund for Nature determined that the fresh water access of 7 billion people would be at risk by 2050 because of global warming and other causes.485 Reports also warned about the potential destruction of the Amazon rainforest and provided evidence that widespread destruction of coral was taking place.487 Several studies in 2003 indicated that climate change was causing a global increase in droughts as well as changes to the ranges and life cycles of flora and fauna.172 Major earthquakes in 2003 included a magnitude 6.8 earthquake in Algeria on May 21 that killed over 2,200 people and a magnitude 6.6 earthquake in Iran on December 26Timeline: World's deadliest earthquakes since 2000 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/6/the-worlds-deadliest-earthquakes-since-2000 2023-10-01 Al Jazeera en October 5, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231005031552/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/6/the-worlds-deadliest-earthquakes-since-2000 live that destroyed approximately 85% of Bam, Iran.170 The largest earthquake of the year was a magnitude 8.3 earthquake off the coast of Hokkaido, but it did not cause significant damage.170 Major volcano eruptions included Stromboli, Italy; Reventador, Ecuador; Soufrière Hills, Montserrat; Volcán de Fuego, Guatemala; and Anatahan, Mariana Islands.171 The 2003 Atlantic hurricane season was above average in activity, including sixteen named storms of which seven were hurricanes. The most severe hurricanes were Hurricane Fabian, Hurricane Isabel, and Hurricane Kate. Tropical Storm Ana was the first recorded North Atlantic tropical storm to occur in April, and 2003 was the first year since 1887 to have two tropical storms occur in December.Lawrence Miles B. Avila Lixion A. Beven John L. Franklin James L. Pasch Richard J. Stewart Stacy R. 2005-06-01 Atlantic Hurricane Season of 2003 Monthly Weather Review en 133 6 1744–1745 10.1175/MWR2940.1 2005MWRv..133.1744L 1520-0493 free The 2003 Pacific typhoon season was slightly more intense than average, though the overall number of tropical storms was below average with 23 total storms. The most destructive typhoons were Typhoon Dujuan, which made landfall in Guangdong, China, on September 2, and Typhoon Maemi, which made landfall in South Korea on September 12.Saunders Mark Lea Adam 2004-01-12 Summary of 2002 NW Pacific Typhoon Season and Verification of Authors' Seasonal Forecasts https://www.tropicalstormrisk.com/docs/TSRNWP2002Verification.pdf Tropical Storm Risk University College London October 31, 2023 July 3, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230703084025/http://tropicalstormrisk.com/docs/TSRNWP2002Verification.pdf live International agreements about the environment that came into force included the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety on September 11, the Aarhus Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants on October 23, and the Protocol on Heavy Metals on December 29.493 The capture or killing of whales and dolphins was a major topic in 2003, as was African poaching where the collection of bushmeat threatened chimpanzee and gorilla populations.196 The Tasman Spirit oil spill occurred in Pakistan on July 28, and cleanup of the previous year's Prestige oil spill continued throughout 2003.195 Other environmental disasters included the bursting of a pulp factory's caustic soda reservoir on March 29 in Cataguases, Brazil196 and the explosion of a wellhead in Alaska.487 The sinking of Soviet submarine K-159 caused worries about leakage of its spent nuclear fuel, but none was found.83 A study in August caused alarm when it was determined that people across 17 countries were at risk of arsenic poisoning from groundwater.196 Five new World Heritage Sites were recognized in 2003: Purnululu National Park in Australia, Three Parallel Rivers in China, Uvs Lake Basin in Mongolia and Russia, Monte San Giorgio in Switzerland, and Phong Nha – Kẻ Bàng National Park in Vietnam.197 Construction began on MOSE, a set of sea gates in Venice designed to prevent the city's perpetual flooding,78 and China began use of the Three Gorges Dam along the Yangtze.488 The overthrow of Saddam Hussein in Iraq ended his project to construct a dam that would have flooded the ruins of Assur.524 Health 2003 in health thumb|SARS-CoV-1 caused the SARS epidemic in 2003. The World Health Organization adopted its first international agreement in 2003, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.493 Member states also granted the WHO increased authority to take action in states without their approval to combat global health crises.347 Global food production increased from 2002 but fell short of the amount produced in 2001, and much of southern Africa was dependent on food aid early in the year following drought-related crop failures in 2002.https://archive.org/details/britannicabookof0000keta/ Britannica Book of the Year 2004 Encyclopædia Britannica 2004 1-59339-100-5 Sparks Karen Jacobs146 SARS, caused by the SARS-CoV-1 virus, became a major health concern in early 2003.2004 2003: The good, the bad and the unexpected Nature Medicine 10 1 8 10.1038/nm0104-8 1078-8956 7095928 China informed the WHO in February that an unknown infectious disease was spreading in the country, and the WHO issued its first global alert the following month.201 Fearing a pandemic, it issued a recommendation to avoid non-essential travel to Guangdong and Hong Kong where the largest outbreaks occurred.137 There were 8,098 cases, including 774 that ended in death, and the final case was diagnosed in June.201 Multiple treatments for cancer were tested or approved in 2003 with varying results, including Avastin, Erbitux, Genasense, Velcade, and Letrozole.206 Several studies were published in 2003 warning of health effects for hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women, causing fear around the procedure. Analysis of retroviral gene therapy for severe combined immunodeficiency found that its life-threatening side effects were caused by the retrovirus affecting the LMO2 gene. Study of bone marrow cells cast doubt on cellular differentiation in stem-cell therapy, moving focus toward cell fusion. A large spike in polio cases led the WHO to redirect its global polio immunization program to the thirteen most-affected countries.201 A breakout in West Africa led to a massive vaccination drive where hundreds of thousands of participants helped vaccinate the children of Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger, and Togo over three days in October.202 Following a summit on measles the same month, UNICEF and the WHO organized a measles vaccination drive in Uganda that brought the nation's child measles vaccination rate to 100% in two weeks.201 The RTS,S malaria vaccine began trials for children in Mozambique after it was shown to be safe for adults in several nations, while human trials for an Ebola vaccine began in the United States.480 Record numbers of HIV/AIDS cases and deaths occurred in 2003 with an estimated five million new cases and three million deaths. Although the disease grew, UNAIDS and the WHO reformed how they estimated the total cases and reduced the estimate from 42 million to 40 million.202 The AIDSVAX vaccine by VaxGen underwent two trials but was unsuccessful.203 The first fusion inhibitor treatment for AIDS, enfuvirtide, was approved in the United States in March. Evidence was presented at an International AIDS Society meeting in July that about 10% of HIV infections in Europe had acquired resistance to antiretroviral treatments.202 In response to concerns about the feasibility of treating HIV in Africa, several pharmaceutical companies reduced prices of antiretroviral drugs by up to 50% for countries in Africa and the Caribbean.203 Other major disease outbreaks include an outbreak of mpox (then known as monkeypox) in May and June in the United States—the first mpox outbreak in the Western Hemisphere—with 72 reported cases,202 the spread of avian influenza to poultry in Europe with one human case in Hong Kong that proved fatal, and two instances of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cows in Canada and the United States.147 Politics and law 2003 in politics International politics thumb|The Treaty of Accession authorized ten countries (yellow) to join the European Union (blue). A conference held by the World Trade Organization in September resulted in a dispute between nations that cast doubts on whether the agreements of the Doha Development Round were sustainable.14 Developing nations alleged that their input was being excluded by Western powers.147 The use of farming subsidies, particularly by Europe, Japan, and the United States, was challenged here because of their effect on developing nations. These disputes led developing nations to form their own alliance, the G21 (later the G20 developing nations).485 Several free trade areas were proposed or negotiated in 2003, including separate zones for the Andean Community, ASEAN, Central America, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Southern Cone Common Market, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation,14 and the Western Hemisphere's Free Trade Area of the Americas.147 Some of these were conditional on political reform and democratization.14 Cambodia and Nepal became the first developing countries to be approved for World Trade Organization membership through a working-party negotiation.347 Renewed concern about nuclear weapons began when North Korea announced its withdrawal from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in January,250 and on February 6 it announced the restoration of its nuclear weapons program. Several nations engaged in tenuous negotiations with North Korea throughout the year, but no agreements were made.81 Iran announced its own program to produce enriched uranium in violation of its agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, disclosing this as an attempt to avoid sanctions.83 Libya agreed to end any plans for a nuclear weapons program as scrutiny of such programs around the world increased.6 The Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty between Russia and the United States came into effect in June.248 Ten European countries signed accession agreements in April that would make them members of the European Union in May 2004.12 This included the first eight post-Soviet states to be approved for membership.350 The European Commission objected to some of the admissions, arguing that the countries had weak legal institutions and were plagued with corruption.352 The first draft of a potential Constitution of the European Union was written by former French president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and presented to the EU in June.351 Political discourse around migration expanded in 2003 from a focus on irregular migration and right of asylum to a more general focus on how inflows of migrants affected trade and the workforce. Many countries expressed interest in regional agreements to manage migration and several summits were held in different parts of the world.288–289 Other developments in international politics included the seizure of the North Korean Pong Su by Australia in April after the ship smuggled heroin into the country,210 the construction of a Russian military base in Kant, Kyrgyzstan, as the Russian Federation's first foreign military base,251 and Libya's acceptance of fault in the 1988 downing of Pan Am Flight 103. In the latter case, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi offered reparations to the victims' family members, prompting the United States to petition for the removal of international sanctions against Libya 82 Domestic politics thumb|A series of protests for civil rights erupted in Hong Kong. Liberian president Charles Taylor fled the country on August 1 and was replaced by Gyude Bryant, a compromise between the different factions of the Liberian Civil War, on October 14.80 Nigeria declined to extradite Taylor to Sierra Leone where he was under indictment.208 President Fradique de Menezes of São Tomé and Príncipe and President Kumba Ialá of Guinea-Bissau were overthrown by military coups in July and in September, respectively, but de Menezes resumed control following negotiations.250 Political controversies in 2003 included a series of protests in Hong Kong following the implementation of laws by China that limited the rights of the Hongkongers,82 the arrest of Russian businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky on October 27 in what was seen internationally as political persecution by the government to exercise control over Russian oligarchs,82 and the arrest of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other pro-democracy activists in Myanmar on May 30.288 Serbian prime minister Zoran Đinđić was assassinated on March 12, prompting a crackdown on a criminal organization that supported former dictator Slobodan Milošević, whom Đinđić had ousted.82 Swedish foreign minister Anna Lindh was murdered on September 10.210 Argentina revoked amnesty for those who had people killed during the Dirty War, and a trial began for General Antonio Domingo Bussi.287 The country also attempted to extradite 40 people accused of crimes against Spanish nationals during the war, but Spain did not accept them.208 The secular Shinui party gained influence in Israel following a public debate on the role of Judaism in Israeli politics.473 Armenia abolished its death penalty so it would be in compliance with Council of Europe obligations.211 Crime and international law The American-led invasion of Iraq dominated discourse around international law and sparked debate about when such actions are justified. Military intervention was supported by countries such as Australia, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, and much of Eastern Europe, while its strongest opponents included China, France, Germany, and Russia.491 Proponents justified the actions by invoking a right to self defense through preemptive war, the allowance of use of force in Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter,207 and the past United Nations Security Council Resolutions 687 (1991) and 1441 (2002).491 The United Nations played a critical role in international discourse around the invasion as its relations with the United States were strained.346 International relations were similar troubled in Europe where British support for the war brought the UK into diplomatic conflict with much of Western Europe.351 The US was criticized for holding suspected terrorists without due process and subjecting them to torture.287 The Iraqi president Saddam Hussein went into hiding as the invasion took place, but he was discovered and arrested six months later.4 The Iraqi government was replaced by the Coalition Provisional Authority, led by the United States military.248 The International Court of Justice (ICJ) accepted two new cases in 2003: a border dispute case between Malaysia and Singapore and a dispute over the United States' application of the death penalty against Mexican nationals. The United Nations General Assembly requested an advisory opinion from the ICJ regarding the construction of the West Bank barrier by Israel. A case filed by Libya against the United Kingdom and the United States regarding the 1988 downing of Pan Am Flight 103 was settled outside of court.491 The ICJ ruled in the Oil Platforms case that American force was not justified in the 1987 attacks on Iranian oil platforms but that it had not broken the 1955 treaty as Iran alleged. It rejected appeals of a 1992 border dispute between El Salvador and Honduras and a 1996 decision that the ICJ had jurisdiction in Yugoslavia at the time.492 The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia convicted major political leaders, including President of Republika Srpska Biljana Plavšić and military commander Stanislav Galić.495 The Tribunal for Rwanda convicted clerics and issued the first international convictions for journalists since the Nuremberg trials.494 Terms for the creation of a Khmer Rouge Tribunal in Cambodia were agreed on in June.495 The International Criminal Court (ICC) was inaugurated in March with Argentine lawyer Luis Moreno Ocampo as its first chief prosecutor. The United States pressured dozens of nations to sign bilateral immunity agreements affirming that they would not extradite American nationals to the ICC.208 Belgium repealed its war crimes law that it had used to claim universal jurisdiction over all war crimes committed anywhere in the world.207 The Migrant Workers Convention came into effect on July 1. The United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, the first UN measure on the issue, came into force on September 29. The United Nations Convention Against Corruption opened for signing on December 9.493 Religion 2003 in religion A week of celebrations were held in Vatican City for the 25th anniversary of the election of Pope John Paul II. The events included the beatification of Mother Teresa.98 John Paul II became the first pope to enter a mosque when he visited the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus on May 6. The church's sexual abuse scandals continued into 2003.471 Cambodia banned Christian proselytizing in February, and Saudi Arabia banned the construction of Christian churches in March.279 Several Christian denominations debated homosexuality and same-sex marriages in 2003. The Catholic Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, the Southern Baptist Convention, and the Coptic Orthodox Church all took stances against it,277 while the United Church of Christ endorsed the inclusion of transgender people.278 The Anglican Communion was embroiled in debate about its stance on homosexuality when Rowan Williams was made Archbishop of Canterbury on February 27 and expressed concern that the issue was fragmenting the church. Jeffrey John was nominated as Bishop of Reading in May, but his relationship with a man caused controversy and prompted him to decline. A similar debate took place when the gay reverend Gene Robinson was made Bishop of New Hampshire on November 2.470277 Opponents of the American-led invasion of Iraq saw it as an attack on Islam.471 Organized efforts were made by political and religious leaders in the Muslim world to differentiate typical Islam from extremism. Religious strife occurred in Saudi Arabia where Wahhabi Muslims supported stricter application of Islamic law—some engaging in civil unrest and suicide bombings—while other denominations spoke in favor of tolerance for minority religions and women.472 Terrorist attacks took place throughout the Middle East, including a car bombing at the Imam Ali Shrine that killed Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim, the most prominent pro-US cleric in Iraq, and at least 80 other people.278 French society and the French government, especially within the National Front, took a hostile approach toward Muslims in 2003. A proposal was made to ban religious attire in schools, while at the same time the country's first Muslim-run school was opened in Lille.473 Judaism was marked with disputes between different sects, both in Israel and the United Kingdom. Israel debated whether Haredi Jews should be allowed to retain exemptions to certain laws.473 The British Masorti Rabbi Louis Jacobs was not permitted in an Orthodox ceremony for his granddaughter's marriage on the orders of the beth din in London, reigniting the Jacobs Affair of the 1960s.474 Hindus were allowed to enter an 11th-century memorial in Bhojshala, Madhya Pradesh, after a five-year ban against Hindus culminated in violence.279 Controversy erupted in the Hindu world after the reprint of Ganesa: Lord of Obstacles, Lord of Beginnings by Paul Courtright and the publication of Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India by James Laine. Both of these books were seen as offensive by some Hindu groups, causing the writers and publishers to receive threats and harassment.474 The Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall opened in London as the largest Sikh temple outside of India.279–280 In Haiti, practitioners of voodoo were given the right to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Religion.279 Science 2003 in science thumb|The dinosaur Rajasaurus was described in 2003. The Herto Man was dated to approximately 160,000 years ago and proposed as a human subspecies Homo sapiens idaltu. The findings provided additional evidence for the theory that humans originated in Africa.149 Another set of human fossils, a set of skulls first discovered in Mexico in 1959, were dated to approximately 13,000 years ago.151 Among nonhuman fossils, the dinosaur Rajasaurus narmadensis was described, study of Microraptor gui fossils determined that it had asymmetrical feathers on its limbs that supported a theory of arboreal evolution for dinosaurs,219 Ginkgo biloba fossils from 121 million years ago closed a gap in the species' fossil record, Tetrapod fossils from the Late Devonian were discovered in China that indicated fast globalization of the clade, and fossilized spider silk was dated to at least 130 million years.220 The 110th element of the periodic table was officially named darmstadtium (Ds), replacing the provisional name ununnilium.270 The Human Genome Project announced in April that it had finished mapping the human genome.218 Studies in genetics produced artificial mouse eggs from stem cells, found that chimpanzees share 99.4 percent of their DNA with humans instead of the previous estimate of 95 percent,479 and determined that microRNAs are responsible for controlling shape-regulating genes in plants.217 Human cloning was a subject of international scrutiny in 2003, triggered in part by the disputed claims of the Raëlist company Clonaid that they had produced human clones. Several countries supported international bans on human cloning.478 The cloned horse Prometea was the first mammal in which its mother was also its genetic donor, while the cloned sheep Dolly died on February 21 after living for only six years, raising doubts about the viability of cloning.479 The use of genetically modified crops was also a controversial issue, particularly in the European Union where a moratorium on genetically modified food remained in effect. Many other countries expanded their production of genetically modified crops.147 The 2002 discovery of the James Ossuary, the suspected resting place of James, brother of Jesus, was challenged by the Israel Antiquities Authority when it accused Oded Golan of fabricating the discovery.150 A Liao dynasty coffin was opened during a live televised broadcast in Mongolia, revealing the remains of a nobleman.151 Other discoveries announced in 2003 include a religious burial site from 9000 BC in Kfar HaHoresh, a sanctuary to Zeus in the Greek city Dion, the first Pleistocene cave art to be found in Great Britain at Creswell Crags, Bronze Age weapons and jewelry in Tyrol,150 Viking treasure from c. 1020 on the Isle of Man, six 4th-century Roman shoes near Amsterdam, a Spring and Autumn period tomb in Henan, a wall of Mandan defensive fortifications at Double Ditch in North Dakota, a Mississippian building in Illinois, Olmec seals that are among the oldest New World writing, burial sites in Teotihuacan,151 a 4000-year-old gourd fragment with religious decorations,280 and the 1898 wreckage of the Portland off the coast of Massachusetts.152 Space exploration and astronomy 2003 in spaceflight thumb|The Space Shuttle Columbia was destroyed on reentry. The American Space Shuttle Columbia was destroyed in the atmosphere as it returned to Earth on February 1, killing all seven on board.130 The Brazilian VLS-1 launcher exploded on the launchpad on August 22, killing 21 people.276 NASA lost contact with the Pioneer 10 probe (launched in 1972) and ended the mission of the Galileo probe (launched in 1989) by sending it into Jupiter's atmosphere. The Voyager 1 probe became the first man-made object to reach the termination shock zone at the edge of the Solar System.477 China became the third country to launch a human into space with the Shenzhou 5 mission on October 15, in which taikonaut Yang Liwei was in space for 21 hours.476 NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) scheduled several launches toward Mars for 2003 as the planet's orbit brought it its closest to Earth in approximately 60,000 years. NASA launched two Mars rovers, the Spirit on June 10 and the Opportunity on July 7.477 The ESA launched the Mars Express orbiter with the Beagle 2 lander on June 2, but contact was lost with the Beagle 2 when it was scheduled to land on December 25.476 The Mars Global Surveyor found over 500 new geographical features on Mars, including ones that provided evidence for landslides around former volcanoes, erosion that may have been caused by flowing water, and liquid iron in the planet's core.273 The ESA's Rosetta mission to the comet 46P/Wirtanen was scheduled for January 12 but set back a year for a safety evaluation of the Ariane 5 rocket following an incident the previous month.476 NASA launched the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (later renamed the Spitzer Space Telescope) on August 2, and the ESA launched the SMART-1 satellite on September 27 to study the Moon.477 The first results from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe were published in 2003. Its measurements of cosmic background radiation indicated that the universe is 13.7 billion years old and the first stars formed 200 million years after the Big Bang.142 This provided evidence of the existence of dark matter and dark energy.477 The number of known moons in the solar system increased from 40 to 61 for Jupiter, from 30 to 31 for Saturn, and from 8 to 11 for Neptune. Other astronomical developments occurred when OGLE-TR-56b became the first exoplanet to be discovered through transit photometry, the exoplanet PSR B1620−26 b was estimated to be over 12.5 billion years old,273 and the existence of the Canis Major dwarf galaxy was proposed. The star Achernar was determined to be oblate in shape with the radius of its equator being approximately 50% larger than that of its poles.274 Technology thumb|Camera phones became mainstream in 2003 (pictured: Nokia 3650). Computing was the subject of multiple legal and philosophical disputes in 2003. The European Commission considered legalizing software patents, triggering strong backlash.481 A dispute began between SCO Group and IBM over the open source status of UNIX, triggering a lawsuit in March. The State Council of China required that government ministries move away from software developed by Microsoft in favor of locally produced software.482 Approximately 55 percent of emails sent in 2003 were spam emails, which led to the implementation of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive in the European Union and the CAN-SPAM Act in the United States.483 The United Nations World Summit on the Information Society took place in December to organize the expansion of internet access throughout the world.484 Significant malware programs in 2003 included the SQL Slammer,484 the Blaster worm, the Welchia worm that was meant to combat the Blaster worm, and the Sobig worm, which was transmitted through email and became the world's fastest spreading virus.163 Among consumer products, camera phones became widespread in 2003 as millions were sold.88 Several companies invested in flatscreen and LCD television production in 2003.241 The original Volkswagen Beetle, the most widely produced car ever designed, ended production with a final run of 3,000 cars for collectors.92 Intel and AMD released 64-bit processors in 2003, popularizing what was previously a niche hardware amid the more common 32-bit systems.483 Broadband internet and cable modems gained popularity at the expense of dial-up and DSL modems. Wi-Fi hotspots became more common, and they were increasingly found in businesses for customers' use.165 Other technological milestones included the end of Concorde supersonic airliner services on October 24 after operating for 27 years,93 the installation of the first rotating underwater turbine in June to generate tidal power in the United Kingdom,488 and the testing of the Massive Ordinance Air Burst bomb by the United States Air Force as its strongest non-nuclear munition.251 Events January January 5 – Tel Aviv central bus station: Two Palestinian suicide bombers attack a neighborhood in Tel Aviv, killing at least 23 people and injuring 103.2003-01-06 Suicide bombings kill 23 in Tel Aviv https://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/01/05/israel.explosions/ 2022-12-13 CNN December 13, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221213183335/https://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/01/05/israel.explosions/ live January 6 – The discovery of OGLE-TR-56b, the first exoplanet to be discovered through transit photometry, is announced.2004-08-09 Ogling Distant Stars https://www.nsf.gov/news/ogling-distant-stars 2025-07-13 United States National Science Foundation January 10 – North Korea announces its withdrawal from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. 2003-01-10 North Korea withdraws from nuclear treaty http://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/jan/10/northkorea1 2022-12-14 The Guardian en December 14, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221214031002/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/jan/10/northkorea1 live January 22 – The last signal from NASA's Pioneer 10 spacecraft is received, some 12.2 billion kilometers (7.6 billion mi) from Earth.http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/releases/2003/03_25HQ.html Pioneer 10 Spacecraft Sends Last Signal Mewhinney Michael February 25, 2003 NASA July 1, 2016 June 28, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120628154600/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/releases/2003/03_25HQ.html dead January 23 NASA loses contact with the Pioneer 10 probe after nearly 31 years.2003-03-23 Pioneer 10 Sends Last Signal https://science.nasa.gov/missions/pioneer/pioneer-10-sends-last-signal/ 2025-07-13 NASA The 1492 painting Descent into Limbo by Andrea Mantegna sells for $28.6 million.2003-01-24 Old Master fetches $28 million https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jan-24-et-quick24.2-story.html 2025-07-05 Los Angeles Times January 31 – Waterfall rail accident: An Intercity Tangara G set train derails near Waterfall, killing 7 and injuring 40 others.http://www.cityrail.info/general/waterfall.pdf Special Commission of Inquiry into the Waterfall Rail Accident; Final Report Volume 1; January 2005; The Honourable Peter Aloysius McInerney QC 26 December 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20080626015521/http://www.cityrail.info/general/waterfall.pdf 26 June 2008 dead The cause was of a faulty deadman's brake.https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/papers/DBAssets/tabledpaper/webAttachments/34400/waterfall-final-report.pdf 35, 61 WATERFALL 31 January 2003 Railway Safety Investigation FINAL REPORT 31 January 2003 NSW Ministry of Transport 20 July 2019 20 July 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190720045913/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/papers/DBAssets/tabledpaper/webAttachments/34400/waterfall-final-report.pdf live February thumb|Colin Powell holds a model of an anthrax vial in his speech to the United Nations on February 5 February 1 – At the conclusion of the STS-107 mission, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates during reentry over Texas, killing all seven astronauts on board.http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/space/Columbia%20accident.htm The Columbia Space Shuttle Accident Century of Flight July 1, 2016 August 24, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190824204843/http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/space/Columbia%20accident.htm live February 4 – The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is renamed to "Serbia and Montenegro" (after its two constituent states) after its leaders reconstitute the country into a loose state-union between Montenegro and Serbia, marking an end to the 73-year-long use of the name "Yugoslavia" by a sovereign state.http://www.factrover.com/history/Serbia_and_Montenegro_history.html The History of Serbia and Montenegro Fact Rover July 2, 2016 July 19, 2004 https://web.archive.org/web/20040719223006/http://www.factrover.com/history/Serbia_and_Montenegro_history.html livehttps://euobserver.com/world/9257 https://web.archive.org/web/20240329155218/https://euobserver.com/world/9257 March 29, 2024 Yugoslavia no longer exists February 5, 2003 March 29, 2024 live Williams Daniel February 4, 2003 Yugoslavs Shrug off Their Country's End - the Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2003/02/05/yugoslavs-shrug-off-their-countrys-end/992f5418-7329-4489-9a23-f0792169aeac/ https://archive.today/20240329155045/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2003/02/05/yugoslavs-shrug-off-their-countrys-end/992f5418-7329-4489-9a23-f0792169aeac/ dead 2024-03-29 Washington Post February 5 – U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell gives a speech to the United Nations presenting the case for a military invasion of Iraq. It will later be discovered that the United States Bush administration misled him when preparing his testimony.2021-10-18 Colin Powell's Fateful Moment https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/colin-powells-fateful-moment 2022-12-13 The New Yorker en-US December 13, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221213190410/https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/colin-powells-fateful-moment live February 6 – North Korea announces that it has resumed its nuclear weapons program.81 February 9 – The 2003 Cricket World Cup begins. It is held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya, and it ends on March 23 with Australia defeating India in the final.2019-03-11 Men's Cricket World Cup 2003 – Overview https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/cricketworldcup/news/mens-cricket-world-cup-2003-overview 2025-07-13 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup February 11 – The first set of data from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe is published.Komatsu Eiichiro 2006-05-01 Recent Results from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe https://doi.org/10.1143/PTPS.163.185 Progress of Theoretical Physics Supplement 163 185–203 10.1143/PTPS.163.185 2006PThPS.163..185K 0375-9687 February 14 – Dolly the sheep, the clone of a mammal, dies.479 February 15 – Millions of people worldwide take part in massive anti-war protests in anticipation of the United States and its allies invading Iraq to overthrow Saddam Hussein's regime.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2765215.stm Millions join global anti-war protests 2003-02-17 BBC News 2016-07-01 September 21, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190921125652/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2765215.stm live February 20 – The Station nightclub fire: A fire broke out at a music venue in West Warwick, Rhode Island, United States, killing 100 people and injuring 230. February 24 – 2003 Bachu earthquake: A 6.8 wearthquake strikes in Xinjiang, killing 257 people.Chan Wendy 2003-02-25 China: Mighty earthquake strikes Xinjiang https://reliefweb.int/report/china/china-mighty-earthquake-strikes-xinjiang 2022-12-13 ReliefWeb en July 2, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220702092014/https://reliefweb.int/report/china/china-mighty-earthquake-strikes-xinjiang live February 26 – The War in Darfur begins after rebel groups rise up against the Sudanese government.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3496731.stm Q&A: Sudan's Darfur conflict 2010-02-23 BBC News 2016-07-01 April 14, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090414191135/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3496731.stm live February 27 Rowan Williams becomes Archbishop of Canterbury.470 Former Bosnian Serb leader Biljana Plavšić is sentenced by the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia to 11 years in prison for war crimes committed during the Bosnian War.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/feb/27/warcrimes 'Iron lady' jailed for Bosnia war crimes 2003-02-27 The Guardian London 2016-07-01 September 21, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160921054743/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/feb/27/warcrimes live March thumb|upright|Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić was assassinated on March 12. March 1 – Khalid Sheikh Mohammed of al-Qaeda is captured in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.2024-11-09 US will appeal ruling that 9/11 defendants can plead guilty, avoid death penalty https://www.voanews.com/a/us-will-appeal-ruling-that-9-11-defendants-can-plead-guilty-avoid-death-penalty/7858278.html 2025-06-30 Voice of America en March 6 – SCO Group files a lawsuit against IBM as part of an ongoing dispute regarding the use of Unix in the development of Linux.Hardy Quentin 2003-03-06 SCO Sues IBM Over Linux https://www.forbes.com/2003/03/06/cs_qh_0306unix.html 2025-07-13 Forbes en March 7 – Peace talks break down in the First Ivorian Civil War.115–116 March 8 – Malta approves joining the European Union in a referendum.http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/03/09/malta.yes/ Malta votes 'yes' to EU membership March 9, 2003 CNN https://web.archive.org/web/20030313220750/http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/03/09/malta.yes/ March 13, 2003 dead November 3, 2016 March 11 The International Criminal Court begins operations.2003-03-11 World criminal court launched https://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/03/11/warcrimes.court.reut/ https://web.archive.org/web/20250312151829/https://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/03/11/warcrimes.court.reut/ March 12, 2025 2025-07-11 CNN live The first test of the GBU-43/B MOAB bomb takes place.2017-04-13 What you need to know about the 'mother of all bombs' https://abcnews.go.com/US/mother-bombs/story?id=46779500 2025-07-13 ABC News March 12 Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić of Serbia is assassinated in Belgrade by a sniper.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2885377.stm Djindjic murder suspect arrested 2003-03-25 BBC 2016-07-01 November 4, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201104212350/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2885377.stm live The World Health Organization issues a global alert on SARS when it spreads to Hong Kong and Vietnam after originating in Mainland China.http://edition.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/04/24/timeline.sars/ CNN.com - Timeline: SARS outbreak - Apr. 24, 2003 CNN 2016-07-01 March 8, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160308183738/http://edition.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/04/24/timeline.sars/ live March 15 – Former General François Bozizé seizes power through a military coup in the Central African Republic.2003-03-17 CAR coup strongly condemned en-GB https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2853429.stm 2022-12-14 August 29, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200829003215/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2853429.stm live March 17 – U.S. President George W. Bush presents a 48-hour ultimatum for Iraqi president Saddam Hussein to resign.2003-03-17 Bush: 'Leave Iraq within 48 hours' https://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/17/sprj.irq.bush.transcript/ 2022-12-13 CNN March 20, 2003 https://web.archive.org/web/20030320042257/https://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/17/sprj.irq.bush.transcript/ live March 20 – The Iraq War begins with the invasion of Iraq by the United States and allied forces.https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/08/31/world/middleeast/20100831-Iraq-Timeline.html#/ Timeline of Major Events in the Iraq War Crichton Kyle Lamb Gina 2016-07-01 Jacquette Rogene Fisher The New York Times January 2, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170102165604/http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/08/31/world/middleeast/20100831-Iraq-Timeline.html#/ live March 23 2003 Nadimarg massacre: Islamist militants gather and execute citizens of a Hindu village in Kashmir, killing 24 of the 54 residents.2003-03-30 Kashmir Massacre Shakes Village's Sense of Fraternity https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-mar-30-adfg-indiakill30-story.html 2022-12-13 Los Angeles Times en-US December 13, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221213183339/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-mar-30-adfg-indiakill30-story.html live Slovenia approves joining the European Union and NATO in a referendum.https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/24/world/slovenia-votes-for-membership-in-european-union-and-nato.html Slovenia Votes for Membership in European Union and NATO Green Peter S. 2003-03-24 The New York Times 0362-4331 2016-07-01 March 18, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220318022921/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/24/world/slovenia-votes-for-membership-in-european-union-and-nato.html live March 31 – In its first military operation, the European Union takes over peacekeeping operations in Macedonia from NATO's Operation Allied Harmony.251 April April 7 – The Archaeological Survey of India orders that Hindus be allowed to worship in the Kamal Maula Mosque.Tomar Shruti 2024-07-16 ASI report links MP's Bhojshala with temple https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/asi-report-links-mp-s-bhojshala-with-temple-101721068722696.html https://web.archive.org/web/20240721033805/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/asi-report-links-mp-s-bhojshala-with-temple-101721068722696.html July 21, 2024 2025-07-13 Hindustan Times en-us live April 9 – U.S. forces seize control of Baghdad, ending the rule of Saddam Hussein. April 12 – Hungary approves joining the European Union in a referendum.http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/04/13/1050172461479.html Hungarians approve EU entry - theage.com.au www.theage.com.au April 13, 2003 2016-07-01 October 24, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121024072514/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/04/13/1050172461479.html live April 13 Five college students are murdered in an unsolved arson in Columbus, Ohio. 21 teenage teenage children are killed after a car accident in Tempi, Greece, after a school trip. April 14 – The Human Genome Project is completed, with 99% of the human genome sequenced to 99.99% accuracy.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2940601.stm Human genome finally complete 2003-04-14 BBC 2016-07-01 June 14, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060614141605/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2940601.stm live April 16 – The Treaty of Accession is signed in Athens between the European Union and ten countries (Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia), concerning these countries' accession into the EU, leading to the 2004 enlargement of the European Union.European Union Accession Act 2003 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/35/notes?view=plain June 12, 2022 UK Gov Legislation June 12, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220612040635/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/35/notes?view=plain live April 18 – Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visits Kashmir and expresses support for peace negotiations with Pakistan.95 April 20 Tropical Storm Ana becomes the first recorded North Atlantic tropical storm to occur in April. The North Korean ship Pong Su is seized by the Royal Australian Navy for smuggling heroin into the country.2019-10-10 Inside Australia's largest heroin haul https://www.9news.com.au/national/north-korea-the-last-voyage-of-the-pong-su-richard-baker-heroin-haul/8f6a88db-094f-47f9-8bb5-86763667b6e9 2025-07-07 9 News April 21 – The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam break away from peace talks in the Sri Lankan Civil War.107 April 28 – The iTunes Store launches.87 May thumb|upright|A tropical cyclone caused severe damage in Sri Lanka in May 2003. May 1 2003 Bingöl earthquake: A 6.4 w earthquake strikes in Bingöl, Turkey, killing 177 people.https://www.iitk.ac.in/nicee/wcee/article/13_888.pdf The 1st of May 2003, Bingol, Turkey, Earthquake, A Study of the Performance of the Building Stock Ellul Frederick D'Ayala Dina 2004 Calayir Yusuf December 13, 2022 March 14, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230314234154/https://www.iitk.ac.in/nicee/wcee/article/13_888.pdf live U.S. President George W. Bush declares an end to the invasion of Iraq in the Mission Accomplished speech. Hostilities would continue for several years during a period of Iraqi insurgency.Cline Seth 2013-05-01 The Other Symbol of George W. Bush's Legacy https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/press-past/2013/05/01/the-other-symbol-of-george-w-bushs-legacy 2022-12-13 U.S. News & World Report March 20, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230320154431/https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/press-past/2013/05/01/the-other-symbol-of-george-w-bushs-legacy live May 3 – A ceasefire takes effect in the First Ivorian Civil War.115–116 May 6 – John Paul II visits Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, becoming the first pope ever to enter a mosque.471 May 11 Lithuania approves joining the European Union in a referendum.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3018983.stm EU welcomes Lithuania vote 2003-05-12 BBC 2016-07-01 November 4, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201104125959/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3018983.stm live 2003 Sri Lanka cyclone: A cyclone makes landfall in Sri Lanka, killing 260 people and causing the country's worst natural disaster in 50 years.Zubair Lareef 2004 May 2003 Disaster in Sri Lanka and Cyclone 01-B in the Bay of Bengal http://link.springer.com/10.1023/B:NHAZ.0000048462.21938.d6 Natural Hazards en 33 3 303–318 10.1023/B:NHAZ.0000048462.21938.d6 2004NatHa..33..303Z 128560863 0921-030X subscription May 12 – 2003 Znamenskoye suicide bombing: Chechen suicide bombers attack a government office in Znamenskoye, Russia, killing at least 59 people.2003-05-14 Chechnya hit by new suicide attack en-GB BBC News https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3027343.stm 2022-12-13 March 14, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060314132951/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3027343.stm live May 15 – Contact with infected prairie dogs causes the first outbreak of human mpox in the Western Hemisphere. Cases continue until June 11.Maskalyk James 2003-07-08 Monkeypox outbreak among pet owners Canadian Medical Association Journal 169 1 44–45 0820-3946 164943 12847040202 May 17 – Slovakia approves joining the European Union in a referendum.https://www.neweurope.eu/article/slovakia-welcomes-eu-membership-thumping-referendum-results/ Slovakia welcomes EU membership with thumping referendum results May 25, 2003 New Europe July 1, 2016 August 15, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160815182742/https://www.neweurope.eu/article/slovakia-welcomes-eu-membership-thumping-referendum-results/ usurped May 19 – Peace talks break down in the insurgency in Aceh and the Indonesian government launches new attacks against the insurgents.Aceh: A timeline of insurgency May 19, 2003 https://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/05/19/aceh.timeline/ 2025-06-30 CNN May 21 2003 Boumerdès earthquake: a 6.8 w earthquake strikes in Algeria, killing over 2,200 people. The World Health Organization adopts its first treaty, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) https://www.who.int/europe/teams/tobacco/who-framework-convention-on-tobacco-control-(who-fctc) 2025-07-06 World Health Organization May 24 – The Eurovision Song Contest 2003 takes place in Riga, Latvia, and is won by Turkish entrant Sertab Erener with the song "Everyway That I Can".https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2935874.stm UK act hits Eurovision low BBC News BBC News 25 May 2003 16 November 2013 26 August 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210826210526/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2935874.stm live May 25 — A Boeing 727 aircraft is stolen from an airport in Luanda, Angola triggering an international terrorist investigation by the FBI and CIA. The aircraft and its pilots were never found.Long before MH370, a plane with two men vanished without a trace: Here's all about the dissapearance of Boeing 727 N844AA https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/long-before-mh370-a-plane-with-two-vanished-without-a-trace-heres-all-about-the-dissapearance-of-boeing-727-n844aa/articleshow/122821283.cms?from=mdr May 26 – Georges Rutaganda becomes the first person to be convicted of war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and his previous charges are upheld.2003-05-27 Rwanda: UN tribunal hands down first war crimes conviction https://news.un.org/en/story/2003/05/69232 2025-07-11 UN News May 28 – Prometea, the world's first cloned horse, is born.https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn4026-worlds-first-cloned-horse-is-born World's first cloned horse is born Bhattacharya Shaoni August 6, 2003 New Scientist July 1, 2016 April 13, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160413052622/https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn4026-worlds-first-cloned-horse-is-born/ live May 30 The United Nations authorizes peacekeeping operations in the Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Steele Jonathan 2003-05-31 UN sends troops to stop Congo massacres https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/may/31/congo.jonathansteele 2025-06-30 The Guardian en-GB 0261-3077 Opposition figures and peace activists, including Aung San Suu Kyi, are arrested in Myanmar.288 June June 1 – The Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty comes into effect between Russia and the United States.https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL31448.html Nuclear Arms Control: The Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty 2011-02-07 Congressional Research Service June 2 – Mars Express launches, containing the Beagle 2 lander.2003-06-03 Mars Express En Route For The Red Planet https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/06/030603083347.htm 2022-12-13 ScienceDaily en December 13, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221213172005/https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/06/030603083347.htm live June 6 – An agreement is reached for the United Nations to form a Khmer Rouge Tribunal.2003-06-06 UN, Cambodia sign agreement to prosecute former Khmer Rouge leaders https://news.un.org/en/story/2003/06/70442 2025-07-11 UN News June 8 – Poland approves joining the European Union in a referendum.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2973738.stm Poland says big Yes to EU 2003-06-09 BBC 2016-07-01 September 27, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200927152553/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2973738.stm/ live June 10 – NASA launches the Spirit rover.477 June 12 Homo sapiens idaltu is proposed as a new human subspecies based on the Herto Man fossils.2003-06-11 A Snapshot of Human Origins https://www.npr.org/2003/06/11/1295460/a-snapshot-of-human-origins 2025-07-13 NPR The opening of a thousand-year-old coffin is broadcast live on Chinese television.2003-06-13 The Odd Truth, June 13, 2003 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-odd-truth-june-13-2003-13-06-2003/ 2025-07-13 CBS News June 14 – The Czech Republic approves joining the European Union in a referendum.https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/15/world/binding-ballot-czechs-give-landslide-approval-2004-membership-european-union.html In Binding Ballot, Czechs Give Landslide Approval to 2004 Membership in European Union Green Peter S. 2003-06-15 The New York Times 0362-4331 2016-07-02 November 18, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201118014149/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/15/world/binding-ballot-czechs-give-landslide-approval-2004-membership-european-union.html live June 15 Operation Desert Scorpion: U.S. forces in Iraq facilitate searches for Ba'athist forces, distribution of humanitarian aid, and engineering programs to repair damaged infrastructure.Osborn Kris 2003-06-17 Operation Desert Scorpion responds to attacks http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/06/17/hln.terror.new.operation/ 2022-12-13 CNN December 13, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221213190410/http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/06/17/hln.terror.new.operation/ live The 50th Venice Biennale begins.Auslander Philip 2004 The Biennale and its Discontents https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/6/article/50150 PAJ: A Journal of Performance and Art 26 1 51–57 10.1162/152028104772624928 1537-9477 June 20 – Former President of France Valéry Giscard d'Estaing presents his draft for a Constitution of the European Union.Mény Yves 2003 Draft Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe https://muse.jhu.edu/article/48116 Journal of Democracy 14 4 64–65 10.1353/jod.2003.0089 1086-3214 subscription June 21 Declaration of Thessaloniki: The European Union encourages accession of states of the western Balkans.Eu-Western Balkans Summit Thessaloniki https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/PRES_03_163 European Commission 2003-06-21 2022-08-20 August 18, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220818085833/https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/PRES_03_163 live The release of the novel Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix becomes a worldwide cultural event and boosts the literary industry.2007-06-28 J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Series - TIME https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1637886_1638263_1638844,00.html 2025-07-05 Time en-US 0040-781X529 Lennox Lewis vs. Vitali Klitschko: Boxer Lennox Lewis defends his title as heavyweight boxing champion against Vitali Klitschko.540 June 30 – Warring parties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo sign a peace accord, bringing an end to the Second Congo War.http://www.france24.com/en/20111115-drc-congo-timeline-zaire-key-dates-mobutu-lumumba-kasavu-kabila-elections Timeline: Key dates in DR Congo's turbulent history Bamat Joseph November 15, 2011 France24 July 1, 2016 August 27, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160827213559/http://www.france24.com/en/20111115-drc-congo-timeline-zaire-key-dates-mobutu-lumumba-kasavu-kabila-elections live July thumb|upright|The Opportunity rover launches on board a Delta II rocket on July 7 July–August – 2003 European heat wave: Europe experiences its hottest summer in over five centuries.Stott Peter A. Stone D. A. Allen M. R. 2004 Human contribution to the European heatwave of 2003 https://www.nature.com/articles/nature03089 Nature en 432 7017 610–614 10.1038/nature03089 15577907 2004Natur.432..610S 13882658 1476-4687 December 14, 2022 December 14, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221214011521/https://www.nature.com/articles/nature03089 live subscription July 1 The annual 1 July Marches in Hong Kong see hundreds of thousands of participants in response to the National Security (Legislative Provisions) Bill.2022-07-02 Timeline: Hong Kong's July 1 carnival of dissent - how 17 years of protest demands fell silent http://hongkongfp.com/2022/07/02/timeline-hong-kongs-july-1-carnival-of-dissent-how-17-years-of-protest-demands-fell-silent/ 2025-07-07 Hong Kong Free Press The Migrant Workers Convention comes into effect.493 In a major development in football, English footballer David Beckham is transferred from Manchester United F.C. to Real Madrid CF for £17.25 million.2003-07-02 Beckham ties up Real move https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3026196.stm 2025-07-06 BBC533 July 5 – SARS is declared to be contained by the World Health Organization.http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/03/11/sars-2013_n_2854568.html SARS 2013: 10 Years Ago SARS Went Around The World, Where Is It Now? Branswell Helen March 11, 2013 The Huffington Post July 1, 2016 January 16, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150116020750/http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/03/11/sars-2013_n_2854568.html dead July 7 – NASA launches the Opportunity rover.477 July 10 The existence of PSR B1620−26 b, the oldest known exoplanet in the galaxy, is confirmed using observations from the Hubble Space Telescope.2003-07-10 Oldest Known Planet Identified https://hubblesite.org/contents/news-releases/2003/news-2003-19 2022-12-14 HubbleSite.org en December 7, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231207102018/https://hubblesite.org/contents/news-releases/2003/news-2003-19.html live The Three Gorges Dam in China begins operating when the first of its 34 generators is activated.2012-12-01 Three Gorges Dam, Yangtze River, Hubei Province, China https://www.powermag.com/topplantthree-gorges-dam-yangtze-river-hubei-province-china/ 2025-07-06 POWER Magazine July 13 – The Iraqi Governing Council is created by the United States as an ethnically diverse provisional government of Iraq.Otterman Sharon 2005-02-02 IRAQ: Iraq's Governing Council https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/iraq-iraqs-governing-council 2022-12-13 Council on Foreign Relations en December 13, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221213190413/https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/iraq-iraqs-governing-council live July 15 – The United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia agrees to disband.102 July 16 – Major Fernando Pereira leads a failed coup against President Fradique de Menezes in São Tomé and Príncipe.Porto João Gomes 2003 Coup D'etat in São Tomé and Príncipe http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10246029.2003.9627247 African Security Review en 12 4 33–35 10.1080/10246029.2003.9627247 144601260 1024-6029 December 14, 2022 December 14, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221214005150/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10246029.2003.9627247 live subscription July 18 The Convention on the Future of Europe finishes its work and proposes the first European Constitution.http://www.hrcr.org/hottopics/EuropeanC.html First European Constitution Drafted July 18, 2003 Human and Constitutional Rights July 2, 2016 August 19, 2003 https://web.archive.org/web/20030819173455/http://www.hrcr.org/hottopics/EuropeanC.html dead The government of the Philippines signs a ceasefire with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. It takes effect the next day.Villanueva Marichu A. Ceasefire with MILF today; Salamat gets safe-conduct pass https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2003/07/19/214190/ceasefire-milf-today-salamat-gets-safe-conduct-pass 2025-06-30 Philstar.com July 24 – The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands, led by Australia, begins after ethnic violence engulfs the island country.http://dfat.gov.au/news/speeches/Pages/operation-helpem-fren-rebuilding-the-nation-of-solomon-islands.aspx Operation Helpem Fren: Rebuilding the Nation of Solomon Islands Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 2016-07-01 August 17, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160817080118/http://dfat.gov.au/news/speeches/Pages/operation-helpem-fren-rebuilding-the-nation-of-solomon-islands.aspx live July 28 – The Tasman Spirit oil spill occurs in Pakistan.195 July 30 – The final Volkswagen Beetle is produced.2021-07-30 July 30th, 2003: The last Beetle https://www.abc27.com/digital-originals/july-30th-2003-the-last-beetle/ https://web.archive.org/web/20210730203532/https://www.abc27.com/digital-originals/july-30th-2003-the-last-beetle/ July 30, 2021 2025-07-13 ABC27 en-US live July 31 – Milomir Stakić receives the first life sentence issued by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.2003-07-31 UN tribunal sentences Bosnian Serb to life imprisonment https://news.un.org/en/story/2003/07/75862 2025-07-11 UN News August thumb|The Canal Hotel after a bombing occurs targeting United Nations personnel on August 19 August 11 The Second Liberian Civil War ends after President Charles Taylor resigns and flees the country.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/aug/11/westafrica Liberian president Taylor steps down Agencies 2003-08-11 The Guardian 2016-07-02 October 5, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161005014731/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/aug/11/westafrica live NATO takes over command of the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan, marking its first major operation outside Europe in its 54-year-history.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/aug/11/afghanistan Nato takes control of Afghanistan peace mission Associated Press 2003-08-11 The Guardian 2016-07-02 October 5, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161005000850/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/aug/11/afghanistan live Riduan Isamuddin, head of the Indonesian Islamist group Jemaah Islamiyah, is arrested in Ayutthaya, Thailand.https://www.amnesty.org/fr/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/amr511192003en.pdf Riduan Isamuddin aka Hambali (m), Indonesian national August 20, 2003 Amnesty International August 12 – The discovery of the dinosaur species Rajasaurus narmadensis is announced.2003-08-14 Dinosaur species discovered https://www.theguardian.com/science/2003/aug/14/dinosaurs.internationalnews 2025-07-13 The Guardian 0261-3077 August 14 – An overloaded power grid following the failure of FirstEnergy's alarm system in their control room causes the Northeast blackout of 2003, affecting more than 50 million people in the United States and Canada with nearly 100 related deaths.Spike in deaths blamed on 2003 New York blackout https://www.reuters.com/article/us-blackout-newyork/spike-in-deaths-blamed-on-2003-new-york-blackout-idUSTRE80Q07G20120127 1 November 2017 Reuters January 26, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20171107021828/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-blackout-newyork/spike-in-deaths-blamed-on-2003-new-york-blackout-idUSTRE80Q07G20120127 November 7, 2017 liveThe blackout explained CBC News Canadian Broadcasting Corporation http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/poweroutage/explained.html dead July 9, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20100812125836/http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/poweroutage/explained.html August 12, 2010 August 15 – Libya formally accepts civil responsibility for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988.2009-05-06 Key dates in Lockerbie bombing case https://www.reuters.com/article/world/-key-dates-in-lockerbie-bombing-case-idUSTRE5452JQ/ 2025-07-07 Reuters August 16 – Element 110 is formally named darmstadtium by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.Darmstadtium (Ds) https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/science/darmstadtium-ds 2025-07-13 EBSCO August 17 – Peace talks between Maoist rebels and the Nepalese government are interrupted by resumed hostilities in the Nepalese Civil War.August 18, 2003 Nepal: Deadly clashes, peace talks https://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/south/08/18/nepal.talks/ June 30, 2025 CNN August 18 – A peace agreement is reached to formally end the Second Liberian Civil War.118 August 19 In the Canal Hotel bombing in Baghdad, 22 people are killed, among them United Nations' Special Representative in Iraq Sérgio Vieira de Mello.In Memoriam: Baghdad, 19 August 2003 https://www.un.org/en/memorial/baghdad2003.shtml 2022-12-13 United Nations EN December 19, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221219031227/https://www.un.org/en/memorial/baghdad2003.shtml live Shmuel HaNavi bus bombing: A Palestinian suicide bomber kills at least 18 people in a bus bombing in Jerusalem.Bennet James 2003-08-19 Bombing Kills 18 and Hurts Scores More on Jerusalem Bus en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/19/international/middleeast/bombing-kills-18-and-hurts-scores-more-on-jerusalem.html 2022-12-13 0362-4331 December 13, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221213183339/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/19/international/middleeast/bombing-kills-18-and-hurts-scores-more-on-jerusalem.html live August 20 – The G21 (later called the G20 developing nations) forms in response to disputes around the upcoming World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference of 2003.G 20 http://www.g-20.mre.gov.br/history.asp dead https://web.archive.org/web/20060825135001/http://www.g-20.mre.gov.br/history.asp August 25, 2006 July 7, 2025 August 22 – The Brazilian VLS-1 launcher explodes on the launchpad on August 22, killing 21 people.276 August 25 The Spitzer Space Telescope is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida.http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/spitzer-space-telescope/ Spitzer Space Telescope nasa.gov 2016-07-02 July 9, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160709180053/http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/spitzer-space-telescope live Car bombs explode at Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar in Mumbai, claiming 54 lives and injuring 244 others. Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba is blamed for the attack.https://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/25/newsid_3921000/3921475.stm 2003: Bombay rocked by twin car bombs BBC 7 August 2009 25 August 2003 April 10, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120410202413/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/25/newsid_3921000/3921475.stm live The attack causes an escalation in the Kashmir conflict.250 August 27 Mars makes its closest approach to Earth in over 60,000 years.http://www.windows2universe.org/headline_universe/solar_system/stories_2003/mars_opposit_27aug2003.html Mars Opposition in August 2003 - Windows to the Universe windows2universe.org 2016-07-02 June 22, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160622105125/http://www.windows2universe.org/headline_universe/solar_system/stories_2003/mars_opposit_27aug2003.html live The first six-party talks, involving South and North Korea, the United States, China, Japan and Russia, convene to find a peaceful resolution to the security concerns of the North Korean nuclear weapons program.http://www.china-un.org/eng/zt/ch/t25488.htm The Six-party Talks Kicked off china-un.org 2017-12-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20191214182709/http://www.china-un.org/eng/zt/ch/t25488.htm December 14, 2019 dead August 29 – Imam Ali mosque bombing: A bomb kills at least 125 people, including Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim, at a Shia mosque in Najaf, Iraq.2003-08-30 Najaf bombing kills Shiite leader, followers say http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/08/29/sprj.irq.najaf/index.html 2022-12-13 CNN December 19, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081219104442/http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/08/29/sprj.irq.najaf/index.html live September September 2 – Typhoon Dujuan makes landfall in Guangdong as a category 1 typhoon with sustained winds of 90 mph. September 5 – Hurricane Fabian strikes Bermuda. September 9 – Armenia abolishes capital punishment entirely, following a law on August 1 that abolished it in most cases.Alexanyan Zhanna September 12, 2003 Death for Death Penalty: Capital punishment abolished; Human Rights Law approved http://archives.armenianow.com/2003/september12/news/death/ 2025-07-07 Armenia Now September 10 Al-Qaeda leaders Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri release their first video statement since 2001.74 The four-day World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference of 2003 begins in Cancún.The Fifth WTO Ministerial Conference https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min03_e/min03_e.htm 2025-07-07 World Trade Organization Swedish foreign minister Anna Lindh is murdered.210 September 11 The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety comes into effect.493 Cambodia and Nepal are approved for membership in the World Trade Organization.September 11, 2003 Ambition achieved as ministers seal Cambodia membership deal https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres03_e/pr354_e.htm 2025-07-07 www.wto.orgSeptember 11, 2003 WTO Ministerial Conference approves Nepal's membership https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres03_e/pr356_e.htm 2025-07-07 September 12 – Typhoon Maemi, makes landfall in South Korea as a category 3 typhoon with sustained winds of 125 mph. September 14 General Veríssimo Correia Seabra leads a bloodless coup against President Kumba Ialá in Guinea-Bissau. He steps down to create a new civilian government days later.2003-09-28 Interim government takes over Bissau en-GB https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3147570.stm 2022-12-14 April 21, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190421142404/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3147570.stm live Estonia approves joining the European Union in a referendum.http://elik.nlib.ee/en/estonia-and-the-eu-2/estonias-accession-to-the-eu Euroopa Liidu Infokeskus Estonia's Accession to the EU nlib.ee 2016-07-02 August 20, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160820182602/http://elik.nlib.ee/en/estonia-and-the-eu-2/estonias-accession-to-the-eu/ dead Sweden rejects joining the Eurozone in a referendum.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0140238042000228112 Elite Collusion and Public Defiance: Sweden's Euro Referendum in 2003 Widfeldt, Anders tandfonline.com 2007 March 10, 2026 September 18 – Hurricane Isabel makes landfall in North Carolina. September 19 – The United Nations establishes the United Nations Mission in Liberia with Resolution 1509.UNMIL Fact Sheet: United Nations Mission in Liberia https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/mission/unmil June 30, 2025 United Nations Peacekeeping March 28, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260328141826/https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/mission/unmil dead September 20 – Latvia approves joining the European Union in a referendum.http://edition.cnn.com:80/2003/WORLD/europe/09/20/latvia.eu/index.html Latvia in decisive 'yes' to EU September 20, 2003 CNN https://web.archive.org/web/20031008115551/http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/09/20/latvia.eu/index.html October 8, 2003 dead November 3, 2016 September 20–October 12 – The 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup is held in the United States after the tournament is moved from China due to the SARS outbreak. Germany win their first title after they defeated Sweden in the final with a golden goal.Longman Jere October 13, 2003 Golden Goal Proves Magical as Germany Captures Women's World Cup https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/13/sports/soccer-golden-goal-proves-magical-as-germany-captures-women-s-world-cup.html The New York Times July 14, 2025 September 21 – NASA ends the Galileo probe mission after nearly 14 years by sending it into Jupiter's atmosphere.2023-06-16 Galileo https://science.nasa.gov/mission/galileo/ 2025-07-13 NASA September 23 The ceasefire in the First Ivorian Civil War breaks down.115–116 AMD releases the Athlon 64, the first 64-bit processor to be released for consumer use.2003-09-23 AMD Rolls Out 64-Bit Chips for Desktop PCs https://www.npr.org/2003/09/23/1440416/amd-rolls-out-64-bit-chips-for-desktop-pcs 2025-07-13 NPR September 24 – The Hubble Space Telescope starts the Hubble Ultra-Deep Field, making 800 exposures, until January 16, 2004.http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/astro/deepfield.html The Hubble Space Telescope "Ultra Deep Field" View hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu 2016-07-02 May 29, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070529154019/http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Astro/deepfield.html live September 25 – Two parties in the Second Sudanese Civil War, the National Islamic Front and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, reach a peace agreement.119 September 26 – The 8.3 w Tokachi earthquake occurs off the coast of Hokkaido.Pavlenko Olga V. 2022-07-15 Influence of source directivity and site effects of 2003 Tokachi-oki earthquake on the generation of high PGA in the near-fault zones Scientific Reports en 12 1 12134 10.1038/s41598-022-16085-7 free 35840632 9287307 2022NatSR..1212134P 2045-2322 September 27 – SMART-1, an ESA spaceprobe and ESA's first mission to the moon, is launched from Kourou, French Guiana.http://www.space.com/532-europes-moon-probe-enter-lunar-orbit.html Europe's First Moon Probe to Enter Lunar Orbit Malik Tariq November 12, 2004 Space.com July 2, 2016 September 3, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160903134701/http://www.space.com/532-europes-moon-probe-enter-lunar-orbit.html live September 29 Hurricane Kate first reaches hurricane status.https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL162003_Kate.pdf Tropical Cyclone Report Hurricane Kate Pasch Richard J. Molleda Robert 30 November 2003 NOAA 1 The United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime comes into force.493 October thumb|Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev attend the inauguration of Kant Air Base on October 23 October 4 – Maxim restaurant suicide bombing: A Palestinian suicide bomber attacks a restaurant in Haifa, Israel, killing at least 19 people.2003-10-04 Eyewitness: 'Dead children and babies' en-GB BBC News https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3164380.stm 2022-12-13 August 25, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180825212537/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3164380.stm live October 5 – Israeli warplanes strike alleged Islamic jihad bases inside Syrian territory, the first Israeli attack on the country since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.http://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-strikes-base-inside-syria/ Israel Strikes Base Inside Syria Crean Ellen October 5, 2003 CBS News July 2, 2016 June 29, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160629193907/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-strikes-base-inside-syria/ live October 6 – Hezbollah and the Israel Defense Forces engage in hostilities in the Shebaa Farms.October 7, 2003 Israel, Lebanon in border clash https://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/10/07/mideast/index.html June 30, 2025 CNN October 7 – Nokia releases a handheld game console, the N-Gage. It becomes a major critical failure in the gaming industry.Eborn Andrew The Failure Awards for defunct branding #3 Nokia N-Gage https://www.thedrum.com/news/2017/08/29/the-failure-awards-defunct-branding-3-nokia-n-gage 2025-07-05 The Drum en-US October 10–November 22 – The 2003 Rugby World Cup is held in Australia and is won by England who defeated Australia in the final after extra time.https://www.tntsports.co.uk/rugby/unbreakable-england-2003-documentary-film-world-cup-tnt-sports-quest-how-to-watch_sto20060236/story.shtml TNT Sport Unbreakable England 2003 documentary film October 14 – Gyude Bryant becomes President of Liberia as a compromise choice after former President Charles Taylor fled the country during the Second Liberian Civil War.80 October 15 – China launches Shenzhou 5, the country's first human spaceflight.http://en.people.cn/200310/15/eng20031015_126094.shtml Shenzhou-5 launch: long-cherished dream realized October 15, 2003 People July 2, 2016 August 17, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160817091400/http://en.people.cn/200310/15/eng20031015_126094.shtml live October 16 Pope John Paul II holds mass to celebrate his 25th anniversary as pope, becoming the fourth pope to reach the milestone.2003-10-16 John Paul II Celebrates 25 Years https://www.cbsnews.com/news/john-paul-ii-celebrates-25-years/ 2025-07-13 CBS News Argentine General Antonio Domingo Bussi is detained for crimes committed in the Dirty War.October 16, 2003 Mayor-elect held in probe https://www.latinamericanstudies.org/argentina/bussi-arrested.htm July 7, 2025 The Miami Herald October 19 – Mother Teresa is beatified by Pope John Paul II.Kreitner Richard 2015-10-19 October 19, 2003: Pope John Paul II Beatifies Mother Teresa https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/october-19-2003-pope-john-paul-ii-beatifies-mother-teresa/ 2025-07-13 en-US 0027-8378 October 21 – After acknowledging that it has produced enriched uranium, Iran agrees to suspend its nuclear program.2003-10-21 Iran to suspend uranium enrichment programme https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/21/politics.iran 2025-07-07 The Guardian en-GB 0261-3077 October 23 The Aarhus Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants comes into effect.493 A Russian air base opens in Kant, Kyrgyzstan, as Russia's first foreign air base since the dissolution of the Soviet Union.2008-11-11 Central Asia Report: October 24, 2003 https://www.rferl.org/a/1342229.html 2025-07-07 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty en October 24 – Concorde makes its last commercial flight, bringing the era of airliner supersonic travel to an end.https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11477-2003Oct24.html Final Concorde Flight Lands at Heathrow Lawless Jill October 24, 2003 The Washington Post July 2, 2016 May 13, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080513093402/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11477-2003Oct24.html live October 16 – The United Nations Security Council adopts Resolution 1511 to approve American-led governance in Iraq.346 October 27 27 October 2003 Baghdad bombings: A series of car bombings occur in Baghdad, Iraq, targeting multiple police stations and a Red Cross headquarters. Approximately 40 people are killed. 2003-10-27 Up to 40 die in Baghdad attacks http://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/27/iraq 2022-12-13 The Guardian en August 27, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130827162900/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/27/iraq live Russian businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky is arrested. Critics allege that this is a political action by the government to control Russian oligarchs.82 November November 6 – The International Court of Justice rules in the Oil Platforms case that the United States was not justified in its 1987 attacks on Iranian oil platforms but that neither party violated a 1955 treaty.Oil Platforms (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States of America) https://www.icj-cij.org/case/90 2025-07-11 International Court of Justice November 14 – The dwarf planet Sedna is discovered by a team of astronomers led by Michael E. Brown from the Palomar Observatory. MPEC 2004-E45 : 2003 VB12 IAU: Minor Planet Center https://minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K04/K04E45.html 15 March 2004 27 March 2018 28 October 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211028100038/https://minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K04/K04E45.html live November 15 – Suicide bombings occur in Istanbul. Further attacks occur five days later. They kill 63 people between them, making them the two deadliest terror attacks in Turkey, and cause uncertainty in the international economy.Rodoplu Ülkümen Arnold Jeffrey L. Tokyay Rifat Ersoy Gurkan Cetiner Serkan Yücel Tayfun 2004 Mass-Casualty Terrorist Bombings In Istanbul, Turkey, November 2003: Report of the Events and the Prehospital Emergency Response https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1049023X00001643/type/journal_article Prehospital and Disaster Medicine en 19 2 133–145 10.1017/S1049023X00001643 15506250 1049-023X subscription 177 November 22 – Baghdad DHL attempted shootdown incident: Shortly after takeoff, a DHL Express cargo plane is struck on the left wing by a surface-to-air missile fired by the Islamic Army in Iraq and forced to land. All three crew members survive without injuries. November 23 – A ceasefire is reached at the Line of Control in Kashmir.95 November 26 – The supersonic passenger jet, Concorde, makes its last ever flight from Heathrow Airport in London to Bristol Filton Airport.http://aerospacebristol.org/ Aerospace Bristol Aerospace Bristol August 3, 2017 August 17, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170817044430/http://aerospacebristol.org/ livehttps://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/edn-moments/4402001/Concorde-makes-its-final-flight--November-26--2003 Concorde makes its final flight, November 26, 2003 Deffree Suzanne November 26, 2017 EDN Network January 12, 2018 January 13, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180113093232/https://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/edn-moments/4402001/Concorde-makes-its-final-flight--November-26--2003 live December December 5 – Trial of Stanislav Galić: The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia sentences Stanislav Galić to 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity.2003-12-05 UN tribunal sentences Bosnian Serb general to 20 years' jail over role in Sarajevo siege https://news.un.org/en/story/2003/12/87762 2025-07-11 UN News December 9 – The United Nations Convention Against Corruption is opened for signing.493 December 13 – Saddam Hussein, the former president of Iraq, is captured in the small town of Ad-Dawr by the U.S. Army.https://www.thenation.com/article/december-13-2003-saddam-hussein-is-captured December 13, 2003: Saddam Hussein Is Captured Kreitner Richard December 13, 2015 The Nation July 2, 2016 June 19, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160619084506/http://www.thenation.com/article/december-13-2003-saddam-hussein-is-captured/ dead December 19 Libya agrees to eliminate all of its materials, equipment, and programs aimed at producing weapons of mass destruction.http://www.nti.org/learn/countries/libya/nuclear Libya: Nuclear Program Overview Nuclear Threat Initiative July 2, 2016 July 12, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160712104555/http://www.nti.org/learn/countries/libya/nuclear/ live The Beagle 2 Mars lander deploys, but contact is lost.2015-01-16 Beagle-2 lander found on Mars https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Mars_Express/Beagle-2_lander_found_on_Mars 2022-12-13 www.esa.int en December 13, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221213172001/https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Mars_Express/Beagle-2_lander_found_on_Mars live December 26 – The 6.6 w Bam earthquake occurs in Iran. December 29 – The Protocol on Heavy Metals comes into effect.493 Births and deaths Category:2003 births Deaths in 2003 Nobel Prizes right|120px Chemistry – Peter Agre, Roderick MacKinnon Literature – J. M. Coetzee Peace – Shirin Ebadi Physics – Alexei Abrikosov, Vitaly Ginzburg, Sir Anthony James Leggett Physiology or Medicine – Paul Lauterbur, Sir Peter Mansfield Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences – Robert F. Engle, Clive W. J. Granger References External links 2003 Year in Review – comprehensive listing of 2003 reviews and lists 2003 Year-End Google Zeitgeist – Google's Yearly List of Major Events and Top Searches for 2003