View source for 2003

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{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Events by month|2003|prefix=Portal:Current events/}}
[[File:2003_Events_Collage_V2.3.jpg|From top left, clockwise: the crew of [[STS-107]] perish when the [[Space Shuttle Columbia|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'']] [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|disintegrates]] during [[reentry]] into [[Atmosphere of Earth|Earth's atmosphere]]; The [[2002–2004 SARS outbreak]] in [[China]] becomes an epidemic; [[Myspace]] becomes one of the first major social media platforms; [[Protests against the Iraq War]] in [[London]]; a drained river in France during the [[2003 European heatwave|European heatwave]]; an [[2003 Bam earthquake|earthquake]] in [[Bam, Iran]], kills 30,000 people; The [[Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse|abuse and torture]] of [[Iraq]]i prisoners at [[Abu Ghraib prison]] by U.S. personnel; a statue of [[Saddam Hussein]] is [[Firdos Square statue destruction|toppled]] in Baghdad after his regime is deposed|300x300px|thumb|right]]
{{Year nav|2003}}
{{Year in various calendars|year=2003}}
{{C21 year in topic}}
{{Year article header|2003}}
The year 2003 was marked by the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|United States invasion of Iraq]] and the subsequent [[Occupation of Iraq (2003–2011)|period of occupation]] and [[Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)|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 [[1998–2002 Argentine great depression|its years-long economic crisis]]. [[World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference of 2003|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 [[October 1978 papal conclave|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 [[North Korea and nuclear weapons|its nuclear weapons program]], and several political leaders were convicted in the International Criminal Tribunals [[International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda|for Rwanda]] and [[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|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 [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|the explosion]] of the [[Space Shuttle Columbia|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 [[SARS epidemic|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 [[2003 Bam earthquake|a magnitude 6.6 earthquake]].

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== Population ==
The [[world population]] on January 1, 2003, was estimated to be 6.272&nbsp;billion people and increased to 6.353&nbsp;billion people by January 1, 2004.<ref name="UN Pop Prospects-2022">{{Cite report |url=https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/MostUsed/ |title=World Population Prospects 2022 |date=2022 |publisher=United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs |access-date=October 6, 2023 |archive-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711213112/https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/MostUsed/ |url-status=live }}</ref> An estimated 134.0&nbsp;million births and 52.5&nbsp;million deaths took place in 2003.<ref name="UN Pop Prospects-2022" /> The average global [[life expectancy]] was 67.1 years, an increase of 0.3 years from 2002.<ref name="UN Pop Prospects-2022" /> There were approximately 10.6&nbsp;million global refugees at the beginning of 2003, and the number was reduced to 9.7&nbsp;million refugees by the end of the year.<ref name="Global Refugee Trends">{{Cite report |url=https://www.unhcr.org/statistics/unhcrstats/40d015fb4/2003-global-refugee-trends-overview-refugee-populations-new-arrivals-durable.html |title=2003 Global Refugee Trends |date=15 June 2004 |publisher=[[UNHCR]] |access-date=October 6, 2023 |archive-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012033657/https://www.unhcr.org/statistics/unhcrstats/40d015fb4/2003-global-refugee-trends-overview-refugee-populations-new-arrivals-durable.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Afghanistan was the largest source of refugees, with a total of 2.1&nbsp;million at the end of the year.<ref name="Global Refugee Trends" />

== Conflicts ==
{{Further|Category:Conflicts in 2003}}
[[File:DM-SD-05-11441.jpg|thumb|American and West African soldiers were deployed in Liberia as [[Joint Task Force Liberia|a joint task force]] in the [[Second Liberian Civil War]].]]
There were 29 armed conflicts with at least 25 fatalities in 2003.<ref name="Armed Conflict">{{Cite journal |last1=Eriksson |first1=Mikael |last2=Wallensteen |first2=Peter |date=2004 |title=Armed Conflict, 1989–2003 |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0022343304047568 |journal=Journal of Peace Research |language=en |volume=41 |issue=5 |pages=625–636 |doi=10.1177/0022343304047568 |s2cid=111915843 |issn=0022-3433 |access-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-date=October 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014060453/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0022343304047568 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref>{{Rp|page=625}} The deadliest conflicts were the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion of Iraq]], the [[Kashmir insurgency]], the [[Second Liberian Civil War]], the [[Nepalese Civil War]], and the [[War in Darfur]].<ref name="Armed Conflict" />{{Rp|page=627}}

The [[European Union]] engaged in its first military operation when it [[European Union Military Operation in the Republic of Macedonia|sent peacekeepers to Macedonia]] and its first operation outside of Europe when [[Operation Artemis|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]].<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|pages=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="SIPRI">{{Cite book |last1=Dwan |first1=Renata |title=SIPRI Yearbook 2004: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security |last2=Gustavsson |first2=Micaela |publisher=[[Stockholm International Peace Research Institute]] |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-19-926570-1 |pages=95–131 |language=en |chapter=Major armed conflicts |access-date=October 12, 2023 |chapter-url=https://www.sipri.org/yearbook/2003/02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328204444/https://www.sipri.org/yearbook/2003/02 |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{Rp|pages=115–116}} 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.<ref name="SIPRI" />{{Rp|page=116}} President [[Charles Taylor (Liberian politician)|Charles Taylor]] resigned on August 2, allowing a peace agreement to take place on August 18.<ref name="SIPRI" />{{Rp|page=118}} The [[Second Sudanese Civil War]] escalated as new militant groups joined the conflict,<ref name="Armed Conflict" />{{Rp|page=628}} though a security agreement was reached between the [[National Islamic Front]] and the [[Sudan People's Liberation Movement]] on September 25.<ref name="SIPRI" />{{Rp|page=119}}

The Indonesian [[insurgency in Aceh]] escalated when a demilitarization agreement failed and the government renewed its offensive in May.<ref name="SIPRI" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="SIPRI" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=250}} The [[Sri Lankan civil war]] continued in 2003 as peace talks failed, and long-running civil wars [[Burundian Civil War|in Burundi]] and [[Lord's Resistance Army insurgency|in Uganda]] both escalated.<ref name="SIPRI" />{{Rp|pages=107–112}} Agreements was reached in the second [[Second Congo War]] for rebels and foreign soldiers to end hostilities.<ref name="SIPRI" />{{Rp|page=101}}<ref name="Armed Conflict" />{{Rp|page=629}}

The [[Colombian conflict]] against two Marxist militant groups—the [[Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia]] and the [[National Liberation Army (Colombia)|National Liberation Army]]—escalated in 2003.<ref name="SIPRI" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="SIPRI" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="SIPRI" />{{Rp|page=125}}

=== International conflicts ===
[[File:SaddamStatue.jpg|thumb|The government of [[Saddam Hussein]] was toppled following the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|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 [[Iraq and weapons of mass destruction|operating a program]] to develop [[weapons of mass destruction]]. The subsequent [[Iraq War]] became the most publicized conflict in 2003.<ref name="Armed Conflict" />{{Rp|pages=627–628}} The coalition quickly defeated the [[Iraqi Armed Forces]], and American president [[George W. Bush]] gave [[Mission Accomplished speech|a speech on May 1]] declaring victory in the war.<ref name="Annual Register">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/annualregisterof0000unse_s9x7/ |title=The Annual Register 2003 |publisher=Keesing's Worldwide |year=2003 |isbn=1-886994-47-1 |editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=D. S. |volume=245}}</ref>{{Rp|page=2}} The subsequent [[Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)|Iraqi insurgency]] proved more deadly than the invasion by the end of the year.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=3}} The most significant insurgency action was [[Canal Hotel bombing|a bombing on August 19]] that targeted United Nations personnel in Baghdad, killing UN Special Representative [[Sérgio Vieira de Mello]] among many others.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=209}} Doubts were raised throughout the year whether Iraq had been developing the weapons of which it was accused.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=3}} The [[Kashmir conflict]] between India and Pakistan slowed until [[August 2003 Mumbai bombings|a bombing in Mumbai]] killed 52 people.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=250}} A ceasefire took effect on November 23.<ref name="SIPRI" />{{Rp|page=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]].<ref name="SIPRI" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Time">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/timeannual200400newy/ |title=Time Annual 2004 |publisher=Time Books |year=2004 |isbn=1-931933-89-8 |editor-last=Knauer |editor-first=Kelly |issn=1097-5721}}</ref>{{Rp|page=76}} Israel also launched bombings against Lebanon and Syria following attacks in Israel.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=74}}

== Culture ==

=== Art and architecture ===
{{main|2003 in art|2003 in architecture}}
[[File:Amber Room-1.jpg|thumb|The [[Amber Room]] of [[Catherine Palace]] was reconstructed in 2003.]]
The most widely publicized art exhibition in 2003 was the [[50th Venice Biennale]],<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=525}} The "Rembrandt's Journey" collected various [[Rembrandt]] works, including [[etching]]s and drawings, at the [[Museum of Fine Arts, Boston]].<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=159}} The ''[[7000 Years of Persian Art]]'' tour took place as a rare international collaboration from the [[National Museum of Iran]].<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=525}} [[Street photography]] made a return in the art community, and the [[International Center of Photography]] held an exhibition on the subject.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=160}} Elsewhere in the art world, [[Descent into Limbo (Mantegna)|''Descent into Limbo'']] by [[Andrea Mantegna]] was the most prominent [[Old Master]] artwork to be sold in 2003, going for US$28.6 million<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=526}} and the government of the Netherlands began returning items from its collection of works it acquired from [[Nazi Germany]], the [[Nederlands Kunstbezit-collectie]].<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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]].<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=200}}

Plans to replace the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|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,<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=527}} and concern that Athens would not be ready to host the [[2004 Summer Olympics]] when construction of the [[Olympic Stadium of Athens]] slowed.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=528}} New buildings that opened in 2003 included the [[Silodam]] housing complex in Amsterdam,<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=154}} the [[Albertina]] art museum in Vienna after a previous closure, the [[Asian Civilisations Museum]] in Singapore,<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=525}} and the [[Walt Disney Concert Hall]] in Los Angeles after sixteen years of development.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=153}} [[The Gherkin]] finished construction in London,<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=154}} and the [[Amber Room]] of [[Catherine Palace]], which existed from 1717 to 1945, finished reconstruction.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=525}}

Museums and libraries were looted and burned during riots in [[Baghdad]] following the invasion of Iraq.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=2}}<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=212}} 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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=524}}

=== Media ===
{{Main|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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2003 Worldwide Box Office |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/world/2003/ |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-date=November 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113213708/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/world/2003/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Critically acclaimed films included ''Finding Nemo'',<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |title=Best 10 Movies of 2003 {{!}} Roger Ebert {{!}} Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/roger-ebert/best-10-movies-of-2003 |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=rogerebert.com |date=December 19, 2012 |language=en |archive-date=October 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014060452/https://www.rogerebert.com/roger-ebert/best-10-movies-of-2003 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Scott |first=A. O. |date=2003-12-28 |title=FILM: THE HIGHS; The Movies of the Year |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/28/movies/film-the-highs-the-movies-of-the-year-687170.html |access-date=2023-10-12 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014060451/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/28/movies/film-the-highs-the-movies-of-the-year-687170.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=The 21st Century's 100 greatest films |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=BBC |date=August 23, 2016 |language=en |archive-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817230650/https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=French |first=Philip |date=2003-12-28 |title=Ring in the new |language=en-GB |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/dec/28/2003inreview.features |access-date=2023-10-12 |issn=0029-7712 |archive-date=October 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014060452/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/dec/28/2003inreview.features |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Lost in Translation (film)|Lost in Translation]]'',<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=2004-01-14 |title=The Year In Film: 2003 |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-year-in-film-2003-1798208331 |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en |archive-date=October 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014060451/https://www.avclub.com/the-year-in-film-2003-1798208331 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World|''Master and Commander'']].<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":8" />

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 [[Cassette tape|cassettes]].<ref>{{Cite report |url=http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/worldsales2003.pdf |title=The Recording Industry World Sales |date=2004 |publisher=[[IFPI]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731044902/http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/worldsales2003.pdf |archive-date=2012-07-31}}</ref> CD sales overall saw a large decline in favor of internet downloads.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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 (album)|''Meteora'']] by [[Linkin Park]]. No non-English albums were among the global top fifty albums sold in 2003.<ref name="ifpi">{{Cite web |title=2000-2005 Top 50 Albums [XLS] |url=https://www.ifpi.org/content/library/top-5-albums-2000-2005.xls |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323114337/http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/top-5-albums-2000-2005.xls |archive-date=2012-03-23 |website=[[IFPI]]}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=529}}<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|pages=244–245}} The ''[[Daily Sun (South Africa)|Daily Sun]]'' launched and became an immediate success in South Africa as a newspaper targeted toward black audiences as recovery from [[Apartheid]] continued.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=243}} Former Peruvian president [[Alberto Fujimori]] began a radio show, ''[[The Chino's Hour]]'', from exile in Japan.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=242}} The television programs ''[[Queer Eye (2003 TV series)|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]]''.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|pages=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]].<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=168}} Through the internet, [[flash mobs]] developed as a social trend in 2003.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=168}}

When decentralized [[peer-to-peer file sharing]] replaced the centralized platform [[Napster]] as a means to [[Music piracy|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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=483}} The [[iTunes Store]] launched on April 28 and was immediately successful, selling over 10 million songs over the next four months.<ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=87}} This was touted as a possible solution to music piracy.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=483}}

=== Sports ===
{{Main|2003 in sports}}
[[File:England world cup winners.jpg|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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=535}} In tennis, players [[Roger Federer]], [[Andy Roddick]], and [[Juan Carlos Ferrero]] won their first [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slams]] in 2003,<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |title=2003 World Sports Highlights |url=https://www.topendsports.com/world/timeline/2003.htm |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=Top End Sports |archive-date=October 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014060453/https://www.topendsports.com/world/timeline/2003.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=538}} while [[Martina Navratilova]] tied with the record of twenty [[Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]] titles set by [[Billie Jean King]].<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=539}} [[Lennox Lewis]] successfully [[Lennox Lewis vs. Vitali Klitschko|defended his status]] as the [[heavyweight boxing champion]] against [[Vitali Klitschko]].<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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]].<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=533}} The [[2003 FIFA Women's World Cup]] was held in the United States after being moved from China due to a [[2002–2004 SARS outbreak|SARS outbreak]]; [[Germany women's national football team|Germany]] won their first title after they defeated [[Sweden women's national football team|Sweden]].<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=307}} Other major sporting upsets took place in golf when [[Ben Curtis (golfer)|Ben Curtis]] defeated some of the sport's top players in his first major competition at the [[2003 Open Championship]],<ref name=":14" /><ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=539}} and in [[Major League Baseball]] when the [[Florida Marlins]] defeated the [[New York Yankees]] in the [[2003 World Series]].<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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 [[Tetrahydrogestrinone|THG]] steroids, which the United States accused the [[Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative]] of providing to athletes.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=537}} [[Michael Schumacher]] remained the dominant driver in the [[2003 Formula One World Championship]], winning 11 of 17 races and claiming his sixth championship.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=539}} [[Lance Armstrong]] won the [[2003 Tour de France]], giving him his fifth victory.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=540}}

== Economy ==
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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="World Economic Situation">{{Cite report |url=https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/publication/world-economic-situation-and-prospects-2004/ |title=World Economic Situation and Prospects 2004 |date=2004-01-08 |publisher=United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs |page=1 |isbn=978-92-1-109146-5 |access-date=October 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128023925/https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/publication/world-economic-situation-and-prospects-2004/ |archive-date=November 28, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Eurozone]] had a low GDP growth of 0.5%.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=351}} [[Developing countries]] did especially well with a growth rate of 5%, compared to the 1.8% growth in developed countries.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=173}} Argentina emerged from [[1998–2002 Argentine great depression|its economic crisis]] after four years, reaching the year's highest GDP in the Western Hemisphere with 7% growth.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=177}} [[Petroleum]] prices fell after the invasion of Iraq concluded and rose again following an announcement that [[OPEC]] would reduce its output.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=182}} The prices of non-fuel commodities, such as metal, minerals, and agricultural materials, increased during the year.<ref name="World Economic Situation" /> Gold, copper, nickel, and aluminum all saw increases in value.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=182}} The airline industry began a slow recovery from the serious decline it faced after the September 11 attacks.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=173}} In the corporate world, the Italian food company [[Parmalat]] and the Dutch supermarket company [[Ahold]] were the subjects of major corporate scandals.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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]].<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=240}} A merger between [[TCL Electronics]] and [[Thomson Multimedia|Thomson]] created the world's largest television set manufacturer.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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]].<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=243}}
== Environment and weather ==
{{Main|2003 in the environment}}
{{See also|List of earthquakes in 2003|Tropical cyclones in 2003}}
[[File:2003년 중앙119구조단 이란 지진 국제출동 031231 이란현장활동24.JPG|thumb|The city of [[Bam, Iran]] was destroyed in 2003 by [[2003 Bam earthquake|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. [[2003 European heatwave|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.<ref name=":11">{{Cite report |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/global/200313 |title=Annual 2003 Global Climate Report |date=2004 |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=2023-10-26 |archive-date=October 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026144252/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/global/200313 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=485}} Reports also warned about the potential destruction of the [[Amazon rainforest]] and provided evidence that widespread destruction of coral was taking place.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=172}}

Major earthquakes in 2003 included [[2003 Boumerdès earthquake|a magnitude 6.8 earthquake]] in Algeria on May 21 that killed over 2,200 people and [[2003 Bam earthquake|a magnitude 6.6 earthquake]] in Iran on December 26<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |title=Timeline: World's deadliest earthquakes since 2000 |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/6/the-worlds-deadliest-earthquakes-since-2000 |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en |archive-date=October 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005031552/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/6/the-worlds-deadliest-earthquakes-since-2000 |url-status=live }}</ref> that destroyed approximately 85% of [[Bam, Iran]].<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=170}} The largest earthquake of the year was [[2003 Tokachi earthquake|a magnitude 8.3 earthquake]] off the coast of [[Hokkaido]], but it did not cause significant damage.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=170}} Major volcano eruptions included [[Stromboli]], Italy; [[Reventador]], Ecuador; [[Soufrière Hills]], Montserrat; [[Volcán de Fuego]], Guatemala; and [[Anatahan]], Mariana Islands.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=171}}

The [[2003 Atlantic hurricane season]] was above average in activity, including sixteen [[Tropical cyclone naming|named storms]] of which seven were hurricanes. The most severe hurricanes were [[Hurricane Fabian]], [[Hurricane Isabel]], and [[Hurricane Kate (2003)|Hurricane Kate]]. [[Tropical Storm Ana (2003)|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.<ref name=":12">{{Cite journal |last1=Lawrence |first1=Miles B. |last2=Avila |first2=Lixion A. |last3=Beven |first3=John L. |last4=Franklin |first4=James L. |last5=Pasch |first5=Richard J. |last6=Stewart |first6=Stacy R. |date=2005-06-01 |title=Atlantic Hurricane Season of 2003 |journal=Monthly Weather Review |language=en |volume=133 |issue=6 |pages=1744–1745 |doi=10.1175/MWR2940.1 |bibcode=2005MWRv..133.1744L |issn=1520-0493|doi-access=free }}</ref> 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 (2003)|Typhoon Dujuan]], which made landfall in [[Guangdong]], China, on September 2, and [[Typhoon Maemi]], which made landfall in South Korea on September 12.<ref name="TSR2001Summ">{{cite web |last1=Saunders |first1=Mark |last2=Lea |first2=Adam |date=2004-01-12 |title=Summary of 2002 NW Pacific Typhoon Season and Verification of Authors' Seasonal Forecasts |url=https://www.tropicalstormrisk.com/docs/TSRNWP2002Verification.pdf |website=Tropical Storm Risk |publisher=University College London |access-date=October 31, 2023 |archive-date=July 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703084025/http://tropicalstormrisk.com/docs/TSRNWP2002Verification.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=195}} Other environmental disasters included the bursting of a pulp factory's [[caustic soda]] reservoir on March 29 in [[Cataguases]], Brazil<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=196}} and the explosion of a [[wellhead]] in Alaska.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=487}} The sinking of [[Soviet submarine K-159]] caused worries about leakage of its spent nuclear fuel, but none was found.<ref name="Time"/>{{Rp|page=83}} A study in August caused alarm when it was determined that people across 17 countries were at risk of [[arsenic poisoning]] from groundwater.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=196}}

Five new [[World Heritage Site]]s 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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=197}} Construction began on [[MOSE]], a set of sea gates in [[Venice]] designed to prevent the city's perpetual flooding,<ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=78}} and China began use of the [[Three Gorges Dam]] along the [[Yangtze]].<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=488}} The overthrow of Saddam Hussein in Iraq ended his project to construct a dam that would have flooded the ruins of [[Assur]].<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=524}}

== Health ==
{{Further|Category:2003 in health}}
[[File:SARS virion.gif|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]].<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=493}} Member states also granted the WHO increased authority to take action in states without their approval to combat global health crises.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/britannicabookof0000keta/ |title=Britannica Book of the Year 2004 |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica |year=2004 |isbn=1-59339-100-5 |editor-last=Sparks |editor-first=Karen Jacobs}}</ref>{{Rp|page=146}}

[[SARS]], caused by the [[SARS-CoV-1]] virus, became a major health concern in early 2003.<ref name="Nature Medicine">{{Cite journal |date=2004 |title=2003: The good, the bad and the unexpected |journal=Nature Medicine |volume=10 |issue=1 |page=8 |doi=10.1038/nm0104-8 |issn=1078-8956 |pmc=7095928}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=201}} Fearing a pandemic, it issued a recommendation to avoid non-essential travel to [[Guangdong]] and [[Hong Kong]] where the largest outbreaks occurred.<ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=137}} There were 8,098 cases, including 774 that ended in death, and the final case was diagnosed in June.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=201}}

Multiple treatments for cancer were tested or approved in 2003 with varying results, including [[Avastin]], [[Erbitux]], [[Genasense]], [[Velcade]],<ref name="Nature Medicine" /> and [[Letrozole]].<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=206}} Several studies were published in 2003 warning of health effects for [[hormone replacement therapy]] in [[postmenopausal]] women, causing fear around the procedure.<ref name="Nature Medicine" /> 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.<ref name="Nature Medicine" /> Study of [[bone marrow]] cells cast doubt on [[cellular differentiation]] in [[stem-cell therapy]], moving focus toward [[cell fusion]].<ref name="Nature Medicine" />

A large spike in [[polio]] cases led the WHO to redirect its global polio immunization program to the thirteen most-affected countries.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=202}} The [[AIDSVAX]] vaccine by [[VaxGen]] underwent two trials but was unsuccessful.<ref name="Nature Medicine" /><ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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 [[drug resistance|resistance]] to [[antiretroviral]] treatments.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=203}}

Other major disease outbreaks include [[2003 Midwest monkeypox outbreak|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,<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=147}}

== Politics and law ==
=== International politics ===
[[File:EU25-2004 European Union map enlargement.svg|thumb|The [[Treaty of Accession 2003|Treaty of Accession]] authorized ten countries (''yellow'') to join the [[European Union]] (''blue'').]]
[[World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference of 2003|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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=14}} Developing nations alleged that their input was being excluded by Western powers.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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]]).<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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]],<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=14}} and the Western Hemisphere's [[Free Trade Area of the Americas]].<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=147}} Some of these were conditional on political reform and democratization.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=14}} Cambodia and Nepal became the first developing countries to be approved for World Trade Organization membership through a working-party negotiation.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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,<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=250}} and on February 6 it announced the restoration of [[North Korea and weapons of mass destruction|its nuclear weapons program]]. Several nations engaged in tenuous negotiations with North Korea throughout the year, but no agreements were made.<ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=83}} Libya agreed to end any plans for a nuclear weapons program as scrutiny of such programs around the world increased.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=6}} The [[Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty]] between Russia and the United States came into effect in June.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=248}}

Ten European countries signed accession agreements in April that would make them members of the European Union in May 2004.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=12}} This included the first eight post-Soviet states to be approved for membership.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=350}} The [[European Commission]] objected to some of the admissions, arguing that the countries had weak legal institutions and were plagued with corruption.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|pages=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,<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=210}} the construction of [[Kant (air base)|a Russian military base]] in [[Kant, Kyrgyzstan]], as the Russian Federation's first foreign military base,<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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 <ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=82}}

=== Domestic politics ===
[[File:Article23Marchdemo (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Hong Kong 1 July marches|A series of protests]] for civil rights erupted in [[Hong Kong]].]]
Liberian president [[Charles Taylor (Liberian politician)|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.<ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=80}} Nigeria declined to extradite Taylor to Sierra Leone where he was under indictment.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=208}} President [[Fradique de Menezes]] of São Tomé and Príncipe and President [[Kumba Ialá]] of Guinea-Bissau were overthrown by military coups [[2003 São Tomé and Príncipe coup attempt|in July]] and [[2003 Guinea-Bissau coup d'état|in September]], respectively, but de Menezes resumed control following negotiations.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=250}}

Political controversies in 2003 included [[Hong Kong 1 July marches|a series of protests]] in [[Hong Kong]] following the implementation of laws by China that limited the rights of the Hongkongers,<ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=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]],<ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=82}} and the arrest of opposition leader [[Aung San Suu Kyi]] and other pro-democracy activists in Myanmar on May 30.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=82}} Swedish foreign minister [[Anna Lindh]] was murdered on September 10.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=210}}

Argentina revoked amnesty for those who had people killed during the [[Dirty War]], and a trial began for General [[Antonio Domingo Bussi]].<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=287}} The country also attempted to extradite 40 people accused of crimes against Spanish nationals during the war, but Spain did not accept them.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=208}} The secular [[Shinui]] party gained influence in Israel following a public debate on the role of Judaism in Israeli politics.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=473}} Armenia abolished its death penalty so it would be in compliance with [[Council of Europe]] obligations.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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]],<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=207}} and the past [[United Nations Security Council]] Resolutions [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 687|687]] (1991) and [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441|1441]] (2002).<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=491}} The United Nations played a critical role in international discourse around the invasion as [[United States and the United Nations|its relations with the United States]] were strained.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=351}} The US was criticized for holding suspected terrorists without due process and subjecting them to torture.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=287}} The Iraqi president [[Saddam Hussein]] went into hiding as the invasion took place, but he was discovered and arrested six months later.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=4}} The Iraqi government was replaced by the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]], led by the United States military.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=248}}

The [[International Court of Justice]] (ICJ) accepted two new cases in 2003: [[Pedra Branca dispute|a border dispute case]] between Malaysia and Singapore and [[Avena case|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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=491}} The ICJ ruled in the [[Oil Platforms case|''Oil Platforms'' case]] that American force was not justified in [[Operation Nimble Archer|the 1987 attacks]] on Iranian oil platforms but that it had not broken the [[Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations and Consular Rights|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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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]].<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=495}} The [[International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda|Tribunal for Rwanda]] convicted clerics and issued the first international convictions for journalists since the [[Nuremberg trials]].<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=494}} Terms for the creation of a [[Khmer Rouge Tribunal]] in Cambodia were agreed on in June.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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 agreement]]s affirming that they would not extradite American nationals to the ICC.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=208}} Belgium repealed [[War Crimes Law (Belgium)|its war crimes law]] that it had used to claim [[universal jurisdiction]] over all war crimes committed anywhere in the world.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=493}}

== Religion ==
A week of celebrations were held in [[Vatican City]] for the 25th anniversary of [[October 1978 papal conclave|the election]] of [[Pope John Paul II]]. The events included the [[beatification]] of [[Mother Teresa]].<ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=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 [[Catholic Church sexual abuse cases|sexual abuse scandals]] continued into 2003.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=471}} Cambodia banned Christian [[proselytizing]] in February, and Saudi Arabia banned the construction of Christian churches in March.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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,<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|pages=277}} while the [[United Church of Christ]] endorsed the inclusion of transgender people.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=470}}<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=277}}

Opponents of the American-led invasion of Iraq saw it as an attack on Islam.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=472}} Terrorist attacks took place throughout the Middle East, including [[2003 Imam Ali Shrine bombing|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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=278}} French society and the French government, especially within the [[National Front (France)|National Front]], took a hostile approach toward Muslims in 2003. [[Stasi Commission|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]].<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=473}} The British [[Masortim|Masorti]] Rabbi [[Louis Jacobs]] was not permitted in an [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] ceremony for his granddaughter's marriage on the orders of the ''[[beth din]]'' in London, reigniting the Jacobs Affair of the 1960s.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=474}}

Hindus were allowed to enter an 11th-century memorial in [[Bhojshala]], Madhya Pradesh, after a five-year ban against Hindus culminated in violence.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=474}} The [[Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall]] opened in London as the largest Sikh temple outside of India.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|pages=279–280}} In Haiti, practitioners of voodoo were given the right to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Religion.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=279}}

== Science ==
[[File:Rajasaurus restoration.jpg|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 [[Recent African origin of modern humans|originated in Africa]].<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=149}} Another set of human fossils, a set of skulls first discovered in Mexico in 1959, were dated to approximately 13,000 years ago.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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,<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=220}}

The 110th element of the [[periodic table]] was officially named [[darmstadtium]] (Ds), replacing the provisional name ununnilium.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=270}} The [[Human Genome Project]] announced in April that it had finished mapping the [[human genome]].<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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,<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=479}} and determined that [[microRNA]]s are responsible for controlling shape-regulating genes in plants.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=478}} The cloned horse [[Prometea]] was the first mammal in which its mother was also its genetic donor, while the cloned sheep [[Dolly (sheep)|Dolly]] died on February 21 after living for only six years, raising doubts about the viability of cloning.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=150}} A [[Liao dynasty]] coffin was opened during a live televised broadcast in Mongolia, revealing the remains of a nobleman.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=151}} Other discoveries announced in 2003 include a religious burial site from {{Circa|9000 BC}} in [[Kfar HaHoresh]], [[Archaeological Park of Dion|a sanctuary to Zeus]] in the Greek city [[Dion, Pieria|Dion]], the first [[Pleistocene]] cave art to be found in Great Britain at [[Creswell Crags]], [[Bronze Age]] weapons and jewelry in [[Tyrol]],<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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 culture|Mississippian]] building in Illinois, [[Olmec]] seals that are among the oldest New World writing, burial sites in [[Teotihuacan]],<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=151}} a 4000-year-old gourd fragment with religious decorations,<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=280}} and the 1898 wreckage of the [[Portland (shipwreck)|Portland]] off the coast of Massachusetts.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=152}}

=== Space exploration and astronomy ===
{{Main|2003 in spaceflight}}
[[File:ColumbiaFLIR2003.png|thumb|The [[Space Shuttle Columbia|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'']] was [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|destroyed]] on reentry.]]
The American [[Space Shuttle Columbia|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'']] was [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|destroyed]] in the atmosphere as it returned to Earth on February 1, killing all seven on board.<ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=130}} The Brazilian [[VLS-1]] launcher exploded on the launchpad on August 22, killing 21 people.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=276}} NASA lost contact with the ''[[Pioneer 10]]'' probe (launched in 1972) and ended the mission of the [[Galileo (spacecraft)|''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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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 (rover)|''Spirit'']] on June 10 and the [[Opportunity (rover)|''Opportunity'']] on July 7.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=273}}

The ESA's [[Rosetta (spacecraft)|''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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=142}} This provided evidence of the existence of [[dark matter]] and [[dark energy]].<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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,<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=274}}

=== Technology ===
[[File:Nokia 3650 Front and Back.jpg|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 [[Software patents and free software|backlash]].<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=481}} [[SCO–Linux disputes|A dispute]] began between [[SCO Group]] and [[IBM]] over the [[open source]] status of [[UNIX]], triggering [[SCO Group, Inc. v. International Business Machines Corp.|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.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=482}} Approximately 55 percent of emails sent in 2003 were [[Spamming|spam emails]], which led to the implementation of the [[Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive 2002|Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive]] in the European Union and the [[CAN-SPAM Act of 2003|CAN-SPAM Act]] in the United States.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=483}} The United Nations [[World Summit on the Information Society]] took place in December to organize the expansion of internet access throughout the world.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=484}} Significant malware programs in 2003 included the [[SQL Slammer]],<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=484}} the [[Blaster (computer worm)|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.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=163}}

Among consumer products, [[camera phones]] became widespread in 2003 as millions were sold.<ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=88}} Several companies invested in [[flatscreen]] and [[LCD television]] production in 2003.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=241}} The original [[Volkswagen Beetle]], the most widely produced car ever designed, ended production with a final run of 3,000 cars for collectors.<ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=92}} [[Intel]] and [[AMD]] released [[64-bit computing|64-bit]] processors in 2003, popularizing what was previously a niche hardware amid the more common [[32-bit computing|32-bit]] systems.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=483}} [[Broadband]] internet and [[Cable modem|cable modems]] gained popularity at the expense of [[Dial-up internet access|dial-up]] and [[DSL modem|DSL modems]]. [[Wi-Fi hotspot|Wi-Fi hotspots]] became more common, and they were increasingly found in businesses for customers' use.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=165}} Other technological milestones included the end of [[Concorde]] supersonic airliner services on October 24 after operating for 27 years,<ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=93}} the installation of the first rotating underwater turbine in June to generate tidal power in the United Kingdom,<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=488}} and the testing of the [[GBU-43/B MOAB|Massive Ordinance Air Burst]] bomb by the [[United States Air Force]] as its strongest non-nuclear munition.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=251}}

==Events==
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This timeline reflects the events described in the article above, determined by their inclusion in reliable sources about the year 2003. The sources used in this timeline exist solely to confirm the dates and do not on their own indicate due weight.

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===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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-01-06 |title=Suicide bombings kill 23 in Tel Aviv |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/01/05/israel.explosions/ |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=CNN |archive-date=December 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213183335/https://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/01/05/israel.explosions/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[January 6]] – The discovery of [[OGLE-TR-56b]], the first exoplanet to be discovered through [[transit photometry]], is announced.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-08-09 |title=Ogling Distant Stars |url=https://www.nsf.gov/news/ogling-distant-stars |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=United States National Science Foundation}}</ref>
* [[January 10]] – North Korea announces its withdrawal from the [[Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2003-01-10 |title=North Korea withdraws from nuclear treaty |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/jan/10/northkorea1 |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=The Guardian |language=en |archive-date=December 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214031002/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/jan/10/northkorea1 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 22]] – The last signal from NASA's ''[[Pioneer 10]]'' spacecraft is received, some 12.2&nbsp;billion kilometers (7.6&nbsp;billion mi) from [[Earth]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/releases/2003/03_25HQ.html|title=Pioneer 10 Spacecraft Sends Last Signal|last=Mewhinney|first=Michael|date=February 25, 2003|website=NASA|access-date=July 1, 2016|archive-date=June 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628154600/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/releases/2003/03_25HQ.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[January 23]]
** [[NASA]] loses contact with the ''[[Pioneer 10]]'' probe after nearly 31 years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-03-23 |title=Pioneer 10 Sends Last Signal |url=https://science.nasa.gov/missions/pioneer/pioneer-10-sends-last-signal/ |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=NASA}}</ref>
** The 1492 painting [[Descent into Limbo (Mantegna)|''Descent into Limbo'']] by [[Andrea Mantegna]] sells for $28.6 million.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-01-24 |title=Old Master fetches $28 million |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jan-24-et-quick24.2-story.html |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

===February===
[[File:Colin Powell anthrax vial. 5 Feb 2003 at the UN.jpg|thumb|[[Colin Powell]] holds a model of [[Anthrax weaponization|an anthrax vial]] in [[Colin Powell's presentation to the United Nations Security Council|his speech]] to the [[United Nations]] on February 5]]
* [[February 1]] – At the conclusion of the [[STS-107]] mission, the [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'' disintegrates during reentry]] over [[Texas]], killing all seven astronauts on board.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/space/Columbia%20accident.htm|title=The Columbia Space Shuttle Accident|website=Century of Flight|access-date=July 1, 2016|archive-date=August 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824204843/http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/space/Columbia%20accident.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[February 4]] – The [[Serbia and Montenegro|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 [[Republic of Montenegro (1992–2006)|Montenegro]] and [[Republic of Serbia (1992–2006)|Serbia]], marking an end to the 73-year-long use of the name "Yugoslavia" by a sovereign state.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.factrover.com/history/Serbia_and_Montenegro_history.html|title=The History of Serbia and Montenegro|website=Fact Rover|access-date=July 2, 2016|archive-date=July 19, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040719223006/http://www.factrover.com/history/Serbia_and_Montenegro_history.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://euobserver.com/world/9257 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329155218/https://euobserver.com/world/9257 | archive-date=March 29, 2024 | title=Yugoslavia no longer exists | date=February 5, 2003 | access-date=March 29, 2024 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Daniel |date=February 4, 2003 |title=Yugoslavs Shrug off Their Country's End - the Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2003/02/05/yugoslavs-shrug-off-their-countrys-end/992f5418-7329-4489-9a23-f0792169aeac/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240329155045/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2003/02/05/yugoslavs-shrug-off-their-countrys-end/992f5418-7329-4489-9a23-f0792169aeac/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2024-03-29 |newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref>
* [[February 5]] – U.S. Secretary of State [[Colin Powell]] gives [[Colin Powell's presentation to the United Nations Security Council|a speech]] to the United Nations presenting the case for a military invasion of [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraq]]. It will later be discovered that the US [[Bush administration (2000)|Bush administration]] [[disinformation|misled]] him when preparing his testimony.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2021-10-18 |title=Colin Powell's Fateful Moment |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/colin-powells-fateful-moment |access-date=2022-12-13 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |archive-date=December 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213190410/https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/colin-powells-fateful-moment |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[February 6]] – North Korea announces that it has resumed [[North Korea and nuclear weapons|its nuclear weapons program]].<ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-11 |title=Men's Cricket World Cup 2003 – Overview |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/cricketworldcup/news/mens-cricket-world-cup-2003-overview |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=ICC Men's Cricket World Cup}}</ref>
* [[February 11]] – The first set of data from the [[Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe]] is published.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Komatsu |first=Eiichiro |date=2006-05-01 |title=Recent Results from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe |url=https://doi.org/10.1143/PTPS.163.185 |journal=Progress of Theoretical Physics Supplement |volume=163 |pages=185–203 |doi=10.1143/PTPS.163.185 |bibcode=2006PThPS.163..185K |issn=0375-9687}}</ref>
* [[February 14]] – [[Dolly (sheep)|Dolly]] the sheep, the clone of a mammal, dies.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=479}}
* [[February 15]] – Millions of people worldwide take part in massive [[15 February 2003 anti-war protests|anti-war protests]] in anticipation of the United States and its allies invading [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraq]] to overthrow [[Saddam Hussein]]'s regime.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2765215.stm|title=Millions join global anti-war protests|date=2003-02-17|work=BBC News|access-date=2016-07-01|archive-date=September 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921125652/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2765215.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[February 24]] – [[2003 Bachu earthquake]]: A 6.8 {{M|w}}earthquake strikes in [[Xinjiang]], killing 257 people.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chan |first=Wendy |date=2003-02-25 |title=China: Mighty earthquake strikes Xinjiang |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/china/china-mighty-earthquake-strikes-xinjiang |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=ReliefWeb |language=en |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702092014/https://reliefweb.int/report/china/china-mighty-earthquake-strikes-xinjiang |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[February 26]] – The [[War in Darfur]] begins after rebel groups rise up against the Sudanese government.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3496731.stm|title=Q&A: Sudan's Darfur conflict|date=2010-02-23|website=BBC News|access-date=2016-07-01|archive-date=April 14, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414191135/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3496731.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[February 27]]
** [[Rowan Williams]] becomes [[Archbishop of Canterbury]].<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/feb/27/warcrimes|title='Iron lady' jailed for Bosnia war crimes|date=2003-02-27|work=[[The Guardian]]|location=London|access-date=2016-07-01|archive-date=September 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921054743/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/feb/27/warcrimes|url-status=live}}</ref>

===March===
[[File:Zoran Đinđić, Davos.jpg|thumb|upright|Serbian Prime Minister [[Zoran Đinđić]] was [[Assassination of Zoran Đinđić|assassinated on March 12]].]]
* [[March 1]] – [[Khalid Sheikh Mohammed]] of al-Qaeda is captured in [[Rawalpindi]], Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-09 |title=US will appeal ruling that 9/11 defendants can plead guilty, avoid death penalty |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/us-will-appeal-ruling-that-9-11-defendants-can-plead-guilty-avoid-death-penalty/7858278.html |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=Voice of America |language=en}}</ref>
* [[March 6]] – [[SCO Group]] files [[SCO Group, Inc. v. International Business Machines Corp.|a lawsuit]] against [[IBM]] as part of [[SCO–Linux disputes|an ongoing dispute]] regarding the use of [[Unix]] in the development of [[Linux]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hardy |first=Quentin |date=2003-03-06 |title=SCO Sues IBM Over Linux |url=https://www.forbes.com/2003/03/06/cs_qh_0306unix.html |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
* [[March 7]] – Peace talks break down in the [[First Ivorian Civil War]].<ref name="SIPRI" />{{Rp|pages=115–116}}
* [[March 8]] – [[Malta]] approves joining the [[European Union]] in [[2003 Maltese European Union membership referendum|a referendum]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/03/09/malta.yes/ |title=Malta votes 'yes' to EU membership |date=March 9, 2003 |website=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030313220750/http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/03/09/malta.yes/ |archive-date=March 13, 2003 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 3, 2016}}</ref>
* [[March 11]]
** The [[International Criminal Court]] begins operations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-03-11 |title=World criminal court launched |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/03/11/warcrimes.court.reut/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250312151829/https://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/03/11/warcrimes.court.reut/ |archive-date=March 12, 2025 |access-date=2025-07-11 |website=CNN |url-status=live }}</ref>
** The first test of the [[GBU-43/B MOAB]] bomb takes place.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-04-13 |title=What you need to know about the 'mother of all bombs' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/mother-bombs/story?id=46779500 |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=ABC News}}</ref>
* [[March 12]]
** Prime Minister [[Zoran Đinđić]] of Serbia [[Assassination of Zoran Đinđić|is assassinated in Belgrade]] by a sniper.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2885377.stm|title=Djindjic murder suspect arrested|date=2003-03-25|newspaper=BBC|access-date=2016-07-01|archive-date=November 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104212350/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2885377.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
** The [[World Health Organization]] issues a global alert on [[SARS]] when [[2002–2004 SARS outbreak|it spreads]] to [[Hong Kong]] and [[Vietnam]] after originating in [[Mainland China]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/04/24/timeline.sars/|title=CNN.com - Timeline: SARS outbreak - Apr. 24, 2003|website=CNN|access-date=2016-07-01|archive-date=March 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308183738/http://edition.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/04/24/timeline.sars/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[March 15]] – Former General [[François Bozizé]] seizes power through [[2003 Central African Republic coup d'état|a military coup]] in the [[Central African Republic]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-03-17 |title=CAR coup strongly condemned |language=en-GB |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2853429.stm |access-date=2022-12-14 |archive-date=August 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829003215/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2853429.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[March 17]] – U.S. President [[George W. Bush]] presents a 48-hour ultimatum for Iraqi president [[Saddam Hussein]] to resign.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-03-17 |title=Bush: 'Leave Iraq within 48 hours' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/17/sprj.irq.bush.transcript/ |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=CNN |archive-date=March 20, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030320042257/https://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/17/sprj.irq.bush.transcript/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[March 20]] – The [[Iraq War]] begins with the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion]] of [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraq]] by the United States and allied forces.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/08/31/world/middleeast/20100831-Iraq-Timeline.html#/|title=Timeline of Major Events in the Iraq War|last1=Crichton|first1=Kyle|last2=Lamb|first2=Gina|access-date=2016-07-01|last3=Jacquette|first3=Rogene Fisher|website=[[The New York Times]]|archive-date=January 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102165604/http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/08/31/world/middleeast/20100831-Iraq-Timeline.html#/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[March 23]]
** [[2003 Nadimarg massacre]]: Islamist militants gather and execute citizens of a Hindu village in [[Kashmir]], killing 24 of the 54 residents.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-03-30 |title=Kashmir Massacre Shakes Village's Sense of Fraternity |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-mar-30-adfg-indiakill30-story.html |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=December 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213183339/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-mar-30-adfg-indiakill30-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
** [[Slovenia]] approves joining the European Union and [[NATO]] in [[2003 Slovenian European Union and NATO membership referendum|a referendum]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/24/world/slovenia-votes-for-membership-in-european-union-and-nato.html|title=Slovenia Votes for Membership in European Union and NATO|last=Green|first=Peter S.|date=2003-03-24|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-07-01|archive-date=March 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318022921/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/24/world/slovenia-votes-for-membership-in-european-union-and-nato.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[March 31]] – In its first military operation, the European Union takes over peacekeeping operations in Macedonia from NATO's [[Operation Allied Harmony]].<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=251}}

===April===
* [[April 7]] – The [[Archaeological Survey of India]] orders that Hindus be allowed to worship in the [[Kamal Maula Mosque]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tomar |first=Shruti |date=2024-07-16 |title=ASI report links MP's Bhojshala with temple |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/asi-report-links-mp-s-bhojshala-with-temple-101721068722696.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240721033805/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/asi-report-links-mp-s-bhojshala-with-temple-101721068722696.html |archive-date=July 21, 2024 |access-date=2025-07-13 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en-us |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[April 9]] – U.S. forces [[Battle of Baghdad (2003)|seize control of Baghdad]], ending the rule of Saddam Hussein.<ref name=":0" />
* [[April 12]] – [[Hungary]] approves joining the European Union in [[2003 Hungarian European Union membership referendum|a referendum]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/04/13/1050172461479.html|title=Hungarians approve EU entry - theage.com.au|website=www.theage.com.au|date=April 13, 2003|access-date=2016-07-01|archive-date=October 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024072514/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/04/13/1050172461479.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[April 13]] - Five college students are murdered in [[2003 Columbus, Ohio arson|an unsolved arson]] in Columbus, Ohio.
* [[April 14]] – The [[Human Genome Project]] is completed, with 99% of the human [[genome]] sequenced to 99.99% accuracy.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2940601.stm|title=Human genome finally complete|date=2003-04-14|newspaper=BBC|access-date=2016-07-01|archive-date=June 14, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614141605/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2940601.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[April 16]] – The [[Treaty of Accession 2003|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]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=European Union Accession Act 2003 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/35/notes?view=plain |access-date=June 12, 2022 |website=UK Gov Legislation |archive-date=June 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220612040635/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/35/notes?view=plain |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[April 18]] – Indian Prime Minister [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] visits Kashmir and expresses support for peace negotiations with Pakistan.<ref name="SIPRI" />{{Rp|page=95}}
* [[April 20]]
** [[Tropical Storm Ana (2003)|Tropical Storm Ana]] becomes the first recorded North Atlantic tropical storm to occur in April.<ref name=":12" />
** The North Korean ship ''[[Pong Su]]'' is seized by the [[Royal Australian Navy]] for smuggling heroin into the country.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-10 |title=Inside Australia's largest heroin haul |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/north-korea-the-last-voyage-of-the-pong-su-richard-baker-heroin-haul/8f6a88db-094f-47f9-8bb5-86763667b6e9 |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=9 News}}</ref>
* [[April 21]] – The [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]] break away from peace talks in the [[Sri Lankan civil war|Sri Lankan Civil War]].<ref name="SIPRI" />{{Rp|page=107}}
* [[April 28]] – The [[iTunes Store]] launches.<ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=87}}

===May===
[[File:01B 2003-05-13 0730Z.jpg|thumb|upright|[[2003 Sri Lanka cyclone|A tropical cyclone]] caused severe damage in Sri Lanka in May 2003.]]
* [[May 1]]
** [[2003 Bingöl earthquake]]: A 6.4 {{M|w}} earthquake strikes in [[Bingöl]], Turkey, killing 177 people.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.iitk.ac.in/nicee/wcee/article/13_888.pdf |title=The 1st of May 2003, Bingol, Turkey, Earthquake, A Study of the Performance of the Building Stock |last1=Ellul |first1=Frederick |last2=D'Ayala |first2=Dina |date=2004 |last3=Calayir |first3=Yusuf |access-date=December 13, 2022 |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314234154/https://www.iitk.ac.in/nicee/wcee/article/13_888.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
** 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 (2003–2011)|Iraqi insurgency]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cline |first=Seth |date=2013-05-01 |title=The Other Symbol of George W. Bush's Legacy |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/press-past/2013/05/01/the-other-symbol-of-george-w-bushs-legacy |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=U.S. News & World Report |archive-date=March 20, 2023 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[May 3]] – A ceasefire takes effect in the First Ivorian Civil War.<ref name="SIPRI" />{{Rp|pages=115–116}}
* [[May 6]] – [[Pope John Paul II|John Paul II]] visits [[Umayyad Mosque]] in [[Damascus]], becoming the first pope ever to enter a mosque.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=471}}
* [[May 11]]
** [[Lithuania]] approves joining the European Union in [[2003 Lithuanian European Union membership referendum|a referendum]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3018983.stm|title=EU welcomes Lithuania vote|date=2003-05-12|newspaper=BBC|access-date=2016-07-01|archive-date=November 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104125959/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3018983.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
** [[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.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Zubair |first=Lareef |date=2004 |title=May 2003 Disaster in Sri Lanka and Cyclone 01-B in the Bay of Bengal |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1023/B:NHAZ.0000048462.21938.d6 |journal=Natural Hazards |language=en |volume=33 |issue=3 |pages=303–318 |doi=10.1023/B:NHAZ.0000048462.21938.d6 |bibcode=2004NatHa..33..303Z |s2cid=128560863 |issn=0921-030X|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
* [[May 12]] – [[2003 Znamenskoye suicide bombing]]: Chechen suicide bombers attack a government office in [[Znamenskoye, Chechen Republic|Znamenskoye]], Russia, killing at least 59 people.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-05-14 |title=Chechnya hit by new suicide attack |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3027343.stm |access-date=2022-12-13 |archive-date=March 14, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060314132951/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3027343.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[May 15]] – Contact with infected prairie dogs [[2003 Midwest mpox outbreak|causes the first outbreak]] of human [[mpox]] in the Western Hemisphere. Cases continue until [[June 11]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Maskalyk |first=James |date=2003-07-08 |title=Monkeypox outbreak among pet owners |journal=Canadian Medical Association Journal |volume=169 |issue=1 |pages=44–45 |issn=0820-3946 |pmc=164943 |pmid=12847040}}</ref><ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=202}}
* [[May 17]] – [[Slovakia]] approves joining the European Union in [[2003 Slovak European Union membership referendum|a referendum]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.neweurope.eu/article/slovakia-welcomes-eu-membership-thumping-referendum-results/|title=Slovakia welcomes EU membership with thumping referendum results|date=May 25, 2003|website=New Europe|access-date=July 1, 2016|archive-date=August 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815182742/https://www.neweurope.eu/article/slovakia-welcomes-eu-membership-thumping-referendum-results/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[May 19]] – Peace talks break down in the [[insurgency in Aceh]] and the Indonesian government launches new attacks against the insurgents.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aceh: A timeline of insurgency |date=May 19, 2003 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/05/19/aceh.timeline/ |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=CNN}}</ref>
* [[May 21]]
** [[2003 Boumerdès earthquake]]: a 6.8 {{M|w}} earthquake strikes in Algeria, killing over 2,200 people.<ref name=":10" />
** The [[World Health Organization]] adopts its first treaty, the [[WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) |url=https://www.who.int/europe/teams/tobacco/who-framework-convention-on-tobacco-control-(who-fctc) |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=World Health Organization}}</ref>
* [[May 24]] – The [[Eurovision Song Contest 2003]] takes place in [[Riga]], Latvia, and is won by [[Turkey in the Eurovision Song Contest|Turkish]] entrant [[Sertab Erener]] with the song "[[Everyway That I Can]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2935874.stm|title=UK act hits Eurovision low|website=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=25 May 2003|access-date=16 November 2013|archive-date=26 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826210526/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2935874.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-05-27 |title=Rwanda: UN tribunal hands down first war crimes conviction |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2003/05/69232 |access-date=2025-07-11 |website=UN News}}</ref>
* [[May 28]] – [[Prometea]], the world's first cloned horse, is born.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn4026-worlds-first-cloned-horse-is-born|title=World's first cloned horse is born|last=Bhattacharya|first=Shaoni|date=August 6, 2003|website=New Scientist|access-date=July 1, 2016|archive-date=April 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413052622/https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn4026-worlds-first-cloned-horse-is-born/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[May 30]]
** The United Nations authorizes peacekeeping operations in the [[Ituri Province]] of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Steele |first=Jonathan |date=2003-05-31 |title=UN sends troops to stop Congo massacres |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/may/31/congo.jonathansteele |access-date=2025-06-30 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
** Opposition figures and peace activists, including [[Aung San Suu Kyi]], are arrested in Myanmar.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=288}}

===June===
* [[June 1]] – The [[Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty]] comes into effect between Russia and the United States.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL31448.html |title=Nuclear Arms Control: The Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty |date=2011-02-07 |publisher=Congressional Research Service}}</ref>
* [[June 2]] – ''[[Mars Express]]'' launches, containing the ''[[Beagle 2]]'' lander.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-06-03 |title=Mars Express En Route For The Red Planet |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/06/030603083347.htm |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=ScienceDaily |language=en |archive-date=December 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213172005/https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/06/030603083347.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[June 6]] – An agreement is reached for the United Nations to form a [[Khmer Rouge Tribunal]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-06-06 |title=UN, Cambodia sign agreement to prosecute former Khmer Rouge leaders |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2003/06/70442 |access-date=2025-07-11 |website=UN News}}</ref>
* [[June 8]] – Poland approves joining the European Union in [[2003 Polish European Union membership referendum|a referendum]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2973738.stm|title=Poland says big Yes to EU|date=2003-06-09|newspaper=BBC|access-date=2016-07-01|archive-date=September 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927152553/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2973738.stm/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[June 10]] – NASA launches the [[Spirit (rover)|''Spirit'']] rover.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=477}}
* [[June 12]]
** ''Homo sapiens idaltu'' is proposed as a new human subspecies based on the [[Herto Man]] fossils.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-06-11 |title=A Snapshot of Human Origins |url=https://www.npr.org/2003/06/11/1295460/a-snapshot-of-human-origins |access-date=2025-07-13 |work=NPR}}</ref>
** The opening of a thousand-year-old coffin is broadcast live on Chinese television.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-06-13 |title=The Odd Truth, June 13, 2003 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-odd-truth-june-13-2003-13-06-2003/ |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=CBS News}}</ref>
* [[June 14]] – The Czech Republic approves joining the European Union in [[2003 Czech European Union membership referendum|a referendum]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/15/world/binding-ballot-czechs-give-landslide-approval-2004-membership-european-union.html|title=In Binding Ballot, Czechs Give Landslide Approval to 2004 Membership in European Union|last=Green|first=Peter S.|date=2003-06-15|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-07-02|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=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|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[June 15]]
** [[Operation Desert Scorpion (Iraq 2003)|Operation Desert Scorpion]]: U.S. forces in Iraq facilitate searches for [[Ba'athism|Ba'athist]] forces, distribution of humanitarian aid, and engineering programs to repair damaged infrastructure.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Osborn |first=Kris |date=2003-06-17 |title=Operation Desert Scorpion responds to attacks |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/06/17/hln.terror.new.operation/|access-date=2022-12-13 |website=CNN |archive-date=December 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213190410/http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/06/17/hln.terror.new.operation/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
** The [[50th Venice Biennale]] begins.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Auslander |first=Philip |date=2004 |title=The Biennale and its Discontents |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/6/article/50150 |journal=PAJ: A Journal of Performance and Art |volume=26 |issue=1 |pages=51–57 |doi=10.1162/152028104772624928 |issn=1537-9477}}</ref>
* [[June 20]] – Former President of France [[Valéry Giscard d'Estaing]] presents his draft for a [[Constitution of the European Union]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mény |first=Yves |date=2003 |title=Draft Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/48116 |journal=Journal of Democracy |volume=14 |issue=4 |pages=64–65 |doi=10.1353/jod.2003.0089 |issn=1086-3214|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
* [[June 21]]
** Declaration of Thessaloniki: The European Union encourages accession of states of the western [[Balkans]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Eu-Western Balkans Summit Thessaloniki|url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/PRES_03_163|publisher=European Commission|date=2003-06-21|accessdate=2022-08-20|archive-date=August 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818085833/https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/PRES_03_163|url-status=live}}</ref>
** The release of the novel ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'' becomes a worldwide cultural event and boosts the literary industry.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2007-06-28 |title=J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Series - TIME |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1637886_1638263_1638844,00.html |access-date=2025-07-05 |magazine=Time |language=en-US |issn=0040-781X}}</ref><ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=529}}
** [[Lennox Lewis vs. Vitali Klitschko]]: Boxer [[Lennox Lewis]] defends his title as [[heavyweight boxing champion]] against [[Vitali Klitschko]].<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=540}}
* [[June 30]] – Warring parties in the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] sign a peace accord, bringing an end to the [[Second Congo War]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20111115-drc-congo-timeline-zaire-key-dates-mobutu-lumumba-kasavu-kabila-elections |title=Timeline: Key dates in DR Congo's turbulent history |last=Bamat |first=Joseph |date=November 15, 2011 |website=France24 |access-date=July 1, 2016 |archive-date=August 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827213559/http://www.france24.com/en/20111115-drc-congo-timeline-zaire-key-dates-mobutu-lumumba-kasavu-kabila-elections |url-status=live}}</ref>

===July===
[[File:Mer-b-final-launch.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Opportunity (rover)|''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.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Stott |first1=Peter A. |last2=Stone |first2=D. A. |last3=Allen |first3=M. R. |date=2004 |title=Human contribution to the European heatwave of 2003 |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/nature03089 |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=432 |issue=7017 |pages=610–614 |doi=10.1038/nature03089 |pmid=15577907 |bibcode=2004Natur.432..610S |s2cid=13882658 |issn=1476-4687 |access-date=December 14, 2022 |archive-date=December 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214011521/https://www.nature.com/articles/nature03089 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
* [[July 1]]
** The annual [[Hong Kong 1 July marches|1 July Marches]] in [[Hong Kong]] see hundreds of thousands of participants in response to the [[National Security (Legislative Provisions) Bill]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-02 |title=Timeline: Hong Kong's July 1 carnival of dissent - how 17 years of protest demands fell silent |url=http://hongkongfp.com/2022/07/02/timeline-hong-kongs-july-1-carnival-of-dissent-how-17-years-of-protest-demands-fell-silent/ |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=Hong Kong Free Press}}</ref>
** The [[Migrant Workers Convention]] comes into effect.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-07-02 |title=Beckham ties up Real move |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3026196.stm |access-date=2025-07-06 |work=BBC}}</ref><ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=533}}
* [[July 5]] – SARS is declared to be contained by the World Health Organization.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/03/11/sars-2013_n_2854568.html |title=SARS 2013: 10 Years Ago SARS Went Around The World, Where Is It Now? |last=Branswell |first=Helen |date=March 11, 2013 |website=The Huffington Post |access-date=July 1, 2016 |archive-date=January 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116020750/http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/03/11/sars-2013_n_2854568.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[July 7]] – NASA launches the [[Opportunity (rover)|''Opportunity'']] rover.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=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]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-07-10 |title=Oldest Known Planet Identified |url=https://hubblesite.org/contents/news-releases/2003/news-2003-19 |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=HubbleSite.org |language=en |archive-date=December 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207102018/https://hubblesite.org/contents/news-releases/2003/news-2003-19.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
** The [[Three Gorges Dam]] in China begins operating when the first of its 34 generators is activated.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-12-01 |title=Three Gorges Dam, Yangtze River, Hubei Province, China |url=https://www.powermag.com/topplantthree-gorges-dam-yangtze-river-hubei-province-china/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=POWER Magazine}}</ref>
* [[July 13]] – The [[Iraqi Governing Council]] is created by the United States as an ethnically diverse provisional government of Iraq.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Otterman |first=Sharon |date=2005-02-02 |title=IRAQ: Iraq's Governing Council |url=https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/iraq-iraqs-governing-council |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=Council on Foreign Relations |language=en |archive-date=December 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213190413/https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/iraq-iraqs-governing-council |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[July 15]] – The [[United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia]] agrees to disband.<ref name="SIPRI" />{{Rp|page=102}}
* [[July 16]] – Major [[Fernando Pereira (major)|Fernando Pereira]] leads [[2003 São Tomé and Príncipe coup d'état attempt|a failed coup]] against President [[Fradique de Menezes]] in São Tomé and Príncipe.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Porto |first=João Gomes |date=2003 |title=Coup D'etat in São Tomé and Príncipe |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10246029.2003.9627247 |journal=African Security Review |language=en |volume=12 |issue=4 |pages=33–35 |doi=10.1080/10246029.2003.9627247 |s2cid=144601260 |issn=1024-6029 |access-date=December 14, 2022 |archive-date=December 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214005150/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10246029.2003.9627247 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
* [[July 18]]
** The [[Convention on the Future of Europe]] finishes its work and proposes the first European Constitution.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hrcr.org/hottopics/EuropeanC.html|title=First European Constitution Drafted|date=July 18, 2003|website=Human and Constitutional Rights|access-date=July 2, 2016|archive-date=August 19, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030819173455/http://www.hrcr.org/hottopics/EuropeanC.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
** The government of the Philippines signs a ceasefire with the [[Moro Islamic Liberation Front]]. It takes effect the next day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Villanueva |first=Marichu A. |title=Ceasefire with MILF today; Salamat gets safe-conduct pass |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2003/07/19/214190/ceasefire-milf-today-salamat-gets-safe-conduct-pass |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref>
* [[July 24]] – The [[Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands|Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands]], led by [[Australia]], begins after ethnic violence engulfs the island country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dfat.gov.au/news/speeches/Pages/operation-helpem-fren-rebuilding-the-nation-of-solomon-islands.aspx|title=Operation Helpem Fren: Rebuilding the Nation of Solomon Islands|website=Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade|access-date=2016-07-01|archive-date=August 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817080118/http://dfat.gov.au/news/speeches/Pages/operation-helpem-fren-rebuilding-the-nation-of-solomon-islands.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[July 28]] – The [[Tasman Spirit oil spill]] occurs in Pakistan.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=195}}
* [[July 30]] – The final [[Volkswagen Beetle]] is produced.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-07-30 |title=July 30th, 2003: The last Beetle |url=https://www.abc27.com/digital-originals/july-30th-2003-the-last-beetle/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730203532/https://www.abc27.com/digital-originals/july-30th-2003-the-last-beetle/ |archive-date=July 30, 2021 |access-date=2025-07-13 |work=ABC27 |language=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[July 31]] – [[Milomir Stakić]] receives the first [[life sentence]] issued by the [[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-07-31 |title=UN tribunal sentences Bosnian Serb to life imprisonment |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2003/07/75862 |access-date=2025-07-11 |website=UN News}}</ref>

===August===
[[File:UNOfficeofHumanitarianCoordinator-Baghdad (UN DF-SD-04-02188).jpg|thumb|The Canal Hotel after [[Canal Hotel bombing|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/aug/11/westafrica|title=Liberian president Taylor steps down|last=Agencies|date=2003-08-11|website=The Guardian|access-date=2016-07-02|archive-date=October 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005014731/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/aug/11/westafrica|url-status=live}}</ref>
** NATO takes over command of the [[International Security Assistance Force|peacekeeping force]] in Afghanistan, marking its first major operation outside Europe in its 54-year-history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/aug/11/afghanistan|title=Nato takes control of Afghanistan peace mission|agency=Associated Press|date=2003-08-11|website=The Guardian|access-date=2016-07-02|archive-date=October 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005000850/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/aug/11/afghanistan|url-status=live}}</ref>
** [[Riduan Isamuddin]], head of the Indonesian Islamist group [[Jemaah Islamiyah]], is arrested in [[Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (city)|Ayutthaya]], Thailand.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.amnesty.org/fr/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/amr511192003en.pdf |title=Riduan Isamuddin aka Hambali (m), Indonesian national |date=August 20, 2003 |publisher=Amnesty International}}</ref>
* [[August 12]] – The discovery of the dinosaur species ''[[Rajasaurus narmadensis]]'' is announced.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-08-14 |title=Dinosaur species discovered |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2003/aug/14/dinosaurs.internationalnews |access-date=2025-07-13 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
* [[August 14]] – An overloaded power grid following the failure of [[FirstEnergy|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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Spike in deaths blamed on 2003 New York blackout|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-blackout-newyork/spike-in-deaths-blamed-on-2003-new-york-blackout-idUSTRE80Q07G20120127|access-date=1 November 2017|work=Reuters|date=January 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107021828/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-blackout-newyork/spike-in-deaths-blamed-on-2003-new-york-blackout-idUSTRE80Q07G20120127|archive-date=November 7, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The blackout explained |website=CBC News|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/poweroutage/explained.html|url-status=dead|access-date=July 9, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812125836/http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/poweroutage/explained.html|archive-date=August 12, 2010}}</ref>
* [[August 15]] – [[Great Socialist People's Arab Jamahiriya|Libya]] formally accepts civil responsibility for the bombing of [[Pan Am Flight 103]] in 1988.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2009-05-06 |title=Key dates in Lockerbie bombing case |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/world/-key-dates-in-lockerbie-bombing-case-idUSTRE5452JQ/ |access-date=2025-07-07 |work=Reuters}}</ref>
* [[August 16]] – Element 110 is formally named [[darmstadtium]] by the [[International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Darmstadtium (Ds) |url=https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/science/darmstadtium-ds |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=EBSCO}}</ref>
* [[August 17]] – Peace talks between Maoist rebels and the Nepalese government are interrupted by resumed hostilities in the [[Nepalese Civil War]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 18, 2003 |title=Nepal: Deadly clashes, peace talks |url=https://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/south/08/18/nepal.talks/ |access-date=June 30, 2025 |website=CNN}}</ref>
* [[August 18]] – A peace agreement is reached to formally end the Second Liberian Civil War.<ref name="SIPRI" />{{Rp|page=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]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=In Memoriam: Baghdad, 19 August 2003 |url=https://www.un.org/en/memorial/baghdad2003.shtml |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=United Nations |language=EN |archive-date=December 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219031227/https://www.un.org/en/memorial/baghdad2003.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>
** [[Shmuel HaNavi bus bombing]]: A Palestinian suicide bomber kills at least 18 people in a bus bombing in [[Jerusalem]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bennet |first=James |date=2003-08-19 |title=Bombing Kills 18 and Hurts Scores More on Jerusalem Bus |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/19/international/middleeast/bombing-kills-18-and-hurts-scores-more-on-jerusalem.html |access-date=2022-12-13 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=December 13, 2022 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[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]].<ref>{{cite web |title=G 20 |url=http://www.g-20.mre.gov.br/history.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060825135001/http://www.g-20.mre.gov.br/history.asp |archive-date=August 25, 2006 |access-date=July 7, 2025}}</ref>
* [[August 22]] – The Brazilian ''[[VLS-1]]'' launcher explodes on the launchpad on August 22, killing 21 people.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=276}}
* [[August 25]]
** The [[Spitzer Space Telescope]] is launched from [[Cape Canaveral]], [[Florida]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/spitzer-space-telescope/|title=Spitzer Space Telescope|website=nasa.gov|access-date=2016-07-02|archive-date=July 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709180053/http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/spitzer-space-telescope|url-status=live}}</ref>
** [[August 2003 Mumbai bombings|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.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/25/newsid_3921000/3921475.stm|title=2003: Bombay rocked by twin car bombs|publisher=BBC|access-date=7 August 2009|date=25 August 2003|archive-date=April 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120410202413/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/25/newsid_3921000/3921475.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The attack causes an escalation in the Kashmir conflict.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=250}}
* [[August 27]]
** [[Mars]] makes its [[Opposition (astronomy)|closest approach]] to Earth in over 60,000 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.windows2universe.org/headline_universe/solar_system/stories_2003/mars_opposit_27aug2003.html|title=Mars Opposition in August 2003 - Windows to the Universe|website=windows2universe.org|access-date=2016-07-02|archive-date=June 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160622105125/http://www.windows2universe.org/headline_universe/solar_system/stories_2003/mars_opposit_27aug2003.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
** 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 Korea and weapons of mass destruction|North Korean nuclear weapons program]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.china-un.org/eng/zt/ch/t25488.htm|title=The Six-party Talks Kicked off|website=china-un.org|access-date=2017-12-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214182709/http://www.china-un.org/eng/zt/ch/t25488.htm|archive-date=December 14, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-08-30 |title=Najaf bombing kills Shiite leader, followers say |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/08/29/sprj.irq.najaf/index.html |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=CNN |archive-date=December 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219104442/http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/08/29/sprj.irq.najaf/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===September===
* [[September 2]] – [[Typhoon Dujuan (2003)|Typhoon Dujuan]] makes landfall in [[Guangdong]] as a category 1 typhoon with sustained winds of 90&nbsp;mph.<ref name="TSR2001Summ" />
* [[September 5]] – [[Hurricane Fabian]] strikes Bermuda.<ref name=":12" />
* [[September 9]] – Armenia abolishes [[capital punishment]] entirely, following a law on August 1 that abolished it in most cases.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alexanyan |first=Zhanna |date=September 12, 2003 |title=Death for Death Penalty: Capital punishment abolished; Human Rights Law approved |url=http://archives.armenianow.com/2003/september12/news/death/ |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=Armenia Now}}</ref>
* [[September 10]]
** [[Al-Qaeda]] leaders [[Osama bin Laden]] and [[Ayman al-Zawahiri]] release their first video statement since 2001.<ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=74}}
** The four-day [[World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference of 2003]] begins in [[Cancún]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Fifth WTO Ministerial Conference |url=https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min03_e/min03_e.htm |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=World Trade Organization}}</ref>
** Swedish foreign minister [[Anna Lindh]] is murdered.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=210}}
* [[September 11]]
** The [[Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety]] comes into effect.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=493}}
** Cambodia and Nepal are approved for membership in the [[World Trade Organization]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 11, 2003 |title=Ambition achieved as ministers seal Cambodia membership deal |url=https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres03_e/pr354_e.htm |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=www.wto.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 11, 2003 |title=WTO Ministerial Conference approves Nepal's membership |url=https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres03_e/pr356_e.htm |access-date=2025-07-07}}</ref>
* [[September 12]] – [[Typhoon Maemi]], makes landfall in South Korea as a category 3 typhoon with sustained winds of 125&nbsp;mph.<ref name="TSR2001Summ" />
* [[September 14]]
** General [[Veríssimo Correia Seabra]] leads [[2003 Guinea-Bissau coup d'état|a bloodless coup]] against President [[Kumba Ialá]] in Guinea-Bissau. He steps down to create a new civilian government days later.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-09-28 |title=Interim government takes over Bissau |language=en-GB |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3147570.stm |access-date=2022-12-14 |archive-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421142404/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3147570.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
** Estonia approves joining the European Union in [[2003 Estonian European Union membership referendum|a referendum]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://elik.nlib.ee/en/estonia-and-the-eu-2/estonias-accession-to-the-eu|title=Euroopa Liidu Infokeskus {{!}} Estonia's Accession to the EU|website=nlib.ee|access-date=2016-07-02|archive-date=August 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820182602/http://elik.nlib.ee/en/estonia-and-the-eu-2/estonias-accession-to-the-eu/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[September 18]] – [[Hurricane Isabel]] makes landfall in [[North Carolina]].<ref name=":12" />
* [[September 19]] – The United Nations establishes the [[United Nations Mission in Liberia]] with [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1509|Resolution 1509]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNMIL Fact Sheet: United Nations Mission in Liberia |url=https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/mission/unmil |access-date=June 30, 2025 |website=United Nations Peacekeeping}}</ref>
* [[September 20]] – Latvia approves joining the European Union in [[2003 Latvian European Union membership referendum|a referendum]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com:80/2003/WORLD/europe/09/20/latvia.eu/index.html|title=Latvia in decisive 'yes' to EU|date=September 20, 2003|website=CNN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031008115551/http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/09/20/latvia.eu/index.html|archive-date=October 8, 2003|url-status=dead|access-date=November 3, 2016}}</ref>
* 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 [[2002–2004 SARS outbreak|SARS outbreak]]. [[Germany women's national football team|Germany]] win their first title after they defeated [[Sweden women's national football team|Sweden]] in [[2003 FIFA Women's World Cup|the final]] with a [[golden goal]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Longman |first=Jere |date=October 13, 2003 |title=Golden Goal Proves Magical as Germany Captures Women's World Cup |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/13/sports/soccer-golden-goal-proves-magical-as-germany-captures-women-s-world-cup.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=July 14, 2025}}</ref>
* [[September 21]] – NASA ends the [[Galileo (spacecraft)|''Galileo'']] probe mission after nearly 14 years by sending it into Jupiter's atmosphere.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-16 |title=Galileo |url=https://science.nasa.gov/mission/galileo/ |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=NASA}}</ref>
* [[September 23]]
** The ceasefire in the First Ivorian Civil War breaks down.<ref name="SIPRI" />{{Rp|pages=115–116}}
** [[AMD]] releases the [[Athlon 64]], the first [[64-bit processor]] to be released for consumer use.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-09-23 |title=AMD Rolls Out 64-Bit Chips for Desktop PCs |url=https://www.npr.org/2003/09/23/1440416/amd-rolls-out-64-bit-chips-for-desktop-pcs |access-date=2025-07-13 |work=NPR}}</ref>
* [[September 24]] – The [[Hubble Space Telescope]] starts the [[Hubble Ultra-Deep Field]], making 800 exposures, until January 16, 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/astro/deepfield.html|title=The Hubble Space Telescope "Ultra Deep Field" View|website=hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu|access-date=2016-07-02|archive-date=May 29, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070529154019/http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Astro/deepfield.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[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.<ref name="SIPRI" />{{Rp|page=119}}
* [[September 26]] – The 8.3 {{M|w}} [[2003 Tokachi earthquake|Tokachi earthquake]] occurs off the coast of [[Hokkaido]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pavlenko |first=Olga V. |date=2022-07-15 |title=Influence of source directivity and site effects of 2003 Tokachi-oki earthquake on the generation of high PGA in the near-fault zones |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=12 |issue=1 |article-number=12134 |doi=10.1038/s41598-022-16085-7 |pmid=35840632 |pmc=9287307 |bibcode=2022NatSR..1212134P |issn=2045-2322}}</ref>
* [[September 27]] – [[SMART-1]], an [[European Space Agency|ESA]] spaceprobe and ESA's first mission to the moon, is launched from [[Kourou]], [[French Guiana]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.space.com/532-europes-moon-probe-enter-lunar-orbit.html|title=Europe's First Moon Probe to Enter Lunar Orbit|last=Malik|first=Tariq|date=November 12, 2004|website=Space.com|access-date=July 2, 2016|archive-date=September 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903134701/http://www.space.com/532-europes-moon-probe-enter-lunar-orbit.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[September 29]]
** [[Hurricane Kate (2003)|Hurricane Kate]] first reaches hurricane status.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL162003_Kate.pdf |title=Tropical Cyclone Report Hurricane Kate |last1=Pasch |first1=Richard J. |last2=Molleda |first2=Robert |date=30 November 2003 |publisher=NOAA |page=1}}</ref>
** The [[United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime]] comes into force.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=493}}

===October===
[[File:Kant Air Base.jpg|thumb|Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] and Kyrgyz President [[Askar Akayev]] attend the inauguration of [[Kant (air base)|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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-10-04 |title=Eyewitness: 'Dead children and babies' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3164380.stm |access-date=2022-12-13 |archive-date=August 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825212537/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3164380.stm |url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[October 5]] – Israeli warplanes [[Ain es Saheb airstrike|strike]] alleged Islamic jihad bases inside [[Syria]]n territory, the first Israeli attack on the country since the 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-strikes-base-inside-syria/|title=Israel Strikes Base Inside Syria|last=Crean|first=Ellen|date=October 5, 2003|website=CBS News|access-date=July 2, 2016|archive-date=June 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629193907/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-strikes-base-inside-syria/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[October 6]] – [[Hezbollah]] and the [[Israel Defense Forces]] engage in hostilities in the [[Shebaa Farms]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 7, 2003 |title=Israel, Lebanon in border clash |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/10/07/mideast/index.html |access-date=June 30, 2025 |website=CNN}}</ref>
* [[October 7]] – [[Nokia]] releases a [[handheld game console]], the [[N-Gage]]. It becomes a major critical failure in the gaming industry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eborn |first=Andrew |title=The Failure Awards for defunct branding {{!}} #3 Nokia N-Gage |url=https://www.thedrum.com/news/2017/08/29/the-failure-awards-defunct-branding-3-nokia-n-gage |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=The Drum |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[October 10]]–[[November 22]] – The [[2003 Rugby World Cup]] is held in Australia and is won by [[England national rugby union team|England]] who defeated [[Australia national rugby union team|Australia]] in [[2003 Rugby World Cup final|the final]] after extra time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tntsports.co.uk/rugby/unbreakable-england-2003-documentary-film-world-cup-tnt-sports-quest-how-to-watch_sto20060236/story.shtml|publisher=[[TNT Sport]]|title=Unbreakable England 2003 documentary film}}</ref>
* [[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.<ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=80}} 
* [[October 15]] – China launches ''[[Shenzhou 5]]'', the country's first [[human spaceflight]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://en.people.cn/200310/15/eng20031015_126094.shtml|title=Shenzhou-5 launch: long-cherished dream realized|date=October 15, 2003|website=People|access-date=July 2, 2016|archive-date=August 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817091400/http://en.people.cn/200310/15/eng20031015_126094.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[October 16]]
** [[Pope John Paul II]] holds mass to celebrate his 25th anniversary as pope, becoming the fourth pope to reach the milestone.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-10-16 |title=John Paul II Celebrates 25 Years |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/john-paul-ii-celebrates-25-years/ |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=CBS News}}</ref>
** Argentine General [[Antonio Domingo Bussi]] is detained for crimes committed in the [[Dirty War]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 16, 2003 |title=Mayor-elect held in probe |url=https://www.latinamericanstudies.org/argentina/bussi-arrested.htm |access-date=July 7, 2025 |work=The Miami Herald}}</ref>
* [[October 19]] – [[Mother Teresa]] is [[beatified]] by Pope John Paul II.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kreitner |first=Richard |date=2015-10-19 |title=October 19, 2003: Pope John Paul II Beatifies Mother Teresa |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/october-19-2003-pope-john-paul-ii-beatifies-mother-teresa/ |access-date=2025-07-13 |language=en-US |issn=0027-8378}}</ref>
* [[October 21]] – After acknowledging that it has produced [[enriched uranium]], Iran agrees to suspend its nuclear program.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-10-21 |title=Iran to suspend uranium enrichment programme |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/21/politics.iran |access-date=2025-07-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
* [[October 23]]
** The [[Aarhus Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants]] comes into effect.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=493}}
** [[Kant (air base)|A Russian air base]] opens in [[Kant, Kyrgyzstan]], as Russia's first foreign air base since the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2008-11-11 |title=Central Asia Report: October 24, 2003 |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1342229.html |access-date=2025-07-07 |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |language=en}}</ref>
* [[October 24]] – [[Concorde]] makes its last commercial flight, bringing the era of airliner [[Supersonic transport|supersonic travel]] to an end.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11477-2003Oct24.html|title=Final Concorde Flight Lands at Heathrow|last=Lawless|first=Jill|date=October 24, 2003|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 2, 2016|archive-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513093402/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11477-2003Oct24.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[October 16]] – The [[United Nations Security Council]] adopts [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1511|Resolution 1511]] to approve American-led governance in Iraq.<ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=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.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2003-10-27 |title=Up to 40 die in Baghdad attacks |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/27/iraq |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=The Guardian |language=en |archive-date=August 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827162900/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/27/iraq |url-status=live }}</ref>
** Russian businessman [[Mikhail Khodorkovsky]] is arrested. Critics allege that this is a political action by the government to control [[Russian oligarchs]].<ref name="Time" />{{Rp|page=82}}

===November===
* [[November 6]] – The International Court of Justice rules in the ''[[Oil Platforms case]]'' that the United States was not justified in its [[Operation Nimble Archer|1987 attacks]] on Iranian oil platforms but that neither party violated [[Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations and Consular Rights|a 1955 treaty]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oil Platforms (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States of America) |url=https://www.icj-cij.org/case/90 |access-date=2025-07-11 |website=International Court of Justice}}</ref>
* [[November 14]] – The dwarf planet [[Sedna (dwarf planet)|Sedna]] is discovered by a team of astronomers led by [[Michael E. Brown]] from the [[Palomar Observatory]].<ref name="2004-E45">{{cite web
| title = MPEC 2004-E45 : 2003 VB12
| publisher = IAU: Minor Planet Center
| url = https://minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K04/K04E45.html
| date = 15 March 2004
| access-date = 27 March 2018
| archive-date = 28 October 2021
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211028100038/https://minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K04/K04E45.html
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
* [[November 15]] – Suicide bombings [[2003 Istanbul 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.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Rodoplu |first1=Ülkümen |last2=Arnold |first2=Jeffrey L. |last3=Tokyay |first3=Rifat |last4=Ersoy |first4=Gurkan |last5=Cetiner |first5=Serkan |last6=Yücel |first6=Tayfun |date=2004 |title=Mass-Casualty Terrorist Bombings In Istanbul, Turkey, November 2003: Report of the Events and the Prehospital Emergency Response |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1049023X00001643/type/journal_article |journal=Prehospital and Disaster Medicine |language=en |volume=19 |issue=2 |pages=133–145 |doi=10.1017/S1049023X00001643 |pmid=15506250 |issn=1049-023X|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name="Britannica" />{{Rp|page=177}}
* [[November 22]] – [[2003 Baghdad DHL attempted shootdown incident|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 with injuries.
* [[November 23]] – A ceasefire is reached at the [[Line of Control]] in Kashmir.<ref name="SIPRI" />{{Rp|page=95}}
* [[November 26]] – The supersonic passenger jet, [[Concorde]], makes its last ever flight from [[Heathrow Airport]] in London to [[Bristol Filton Airport]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aerospacebristol.org/|title=Aerospace Bristol|website=Aerospace Bristol|access-date=August 3, 2017|archive-date=August 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817044430/http://aerospacebristol.org/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/edn-moments/4402001/Concorde-makes-its-final-flight--November-26--2003|title=Concorde makes its final flight, November 26, 2003|last=Deffree|first=Suzanne|date=November 26, 2017|website=EDN Network|access-date=January 12, 2018|archive-date=January 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113093232/https://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/edn-moments/4402001/Concorde-makes-its-final-flight--November-26--2003|url-status=live}}</ref>

===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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-12-05 |title=UN tribunal sentences Bosnian Serb general to 20 years' jail over role in Sarajevo siege |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2003/12/87762 |access-date=2025-07-11 |website=UN News}}</ref>
* [[December 9]] – The [[United Nations Convention Against Corruption]] is opened for signing.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=493}}
* [[December 13]] – [[Saddam Hussein]], the former president of Iraq, [[Capture of Saddam Hussein|is captured]] in the small town of [[Ad-Dawr]] by the U.S. Army.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/december-13-2003-saddam-hussein-is-captured|title=December 13, 2003: Saddam Hussein Is Captured|last=Kreitner|first=Richard|date=December 13, 2015|website=The Nation|access-date=July 2, 2016|archive-date=June 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160619084506/http://www.thenation.com/article/december-13-2003-saddam-hussein-is-captured/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[December 19]]
** [[Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya|Libya]] agrees [[Disarmament of Libya|to eliminate all of its materials]], equipment, and programs aimed at [[Libya and weapons of mass destruction|producing weapons of mass destruction]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nti.org/learn/countries/libya/nuclear|title=Libya: Nuclear Program Overview|website=Nuclear Threat Initiative|access-date=July 2, 2016|archive-date=July 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160712104555/http://www.nti.org/learn/countries/libya/nuclear/|url-status=live}}</ref>
** The ''Beagle 2'' Mars lander deploys, but contact is lost.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-01-16 |title=Beagle-2 lander found on Mars |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Mars_Express/Beagle-2_lander_found_on_Mars |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=www.esa.int |language=en |archive-date=December 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213172001/https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Mars_Express/Beagle-2_lander_found_on_Mars |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[December 26]] – The 6.6 {{M|w}} [[2003 Bam earthquake|Bam earthquake]] occurs in [[Iran]].<ref name=":10" />
* [[December 29]] – The [[Protocol on Heavy Metals]] comes into effect.<ref name="Annual Register" />{{Rp|page=493}}

==Nobel Prizes==
[[File:Nobel medal.png|right|120px]]
* [[Nobel Prize in Chemistry|Chemistry]] – [[Peter Agre]], [[Roderick MacKinnon]]
* [[Nobel Prize in Literature|Literature]] – [[J. M. Coetzee]]
* [[Nobel Peace Prize|Peace]] – [[Shirin Ebadi]]
* [[Nobel Prize in Physics|Physics]] – [[Alexei Abrikosov (physicist)|Alexei Abrikosov]], [[Vitaly Ginzburg]], Sir [[Anthony James Leggett]]
* [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine|Physiology or Medicine]] – [[Paul Lauterbur]], Sir [[Peter Mansfield]]

== See also ==

* [[:Category:2003 births]]
* [[Deaths in 2003]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Modern history}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* [http://www.fimoculous.com/year-review-2003.cfm 2003 Year in Review] – comprehensive listing of 2003 reviews and lists
* [http://www.google.com/press/zeitgeist2003.html 2003 Year-End Google Zeitgeist] – Google's Yearly List of Major Events and Top Searches for 2003
{{Events by month links}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2003}}
[[Category:2003| ]]