Portal:Current events/August 2003: Difference between revisions

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{{Events by month|2003|prefix=Portal:Current events/}}

[[de:August 2003]] [[fr:Août 2003]] [[nl:Augustus 2003]] [[zh:2003年8月]]

'''[[August]]''' '''[[2003]]''' was the eighth month of that common year. The month, which began on a [[Friday]], ended on a [[Sunday]] after 31 days.

__NOTOC__

== [[Portal:Current events]] ==

[[2003]] : [[January 2003|January]] - [[February 2003|February]] - [[March 2003|March]] - [[April 2003|April]] - [[May 2003|May]] - [[June 2003|June]] - [[July 2003|July]] - '''August''' - [[September 2003|September]] - [[October 2003|October]] - [[November 2003|November]] - [[December 2003|December]]

''This is an [[Portal:Current events/How to archive the portal|archived version]] of Wikipedia's [[Portal:Current events|Current events Portal]] from August 2003.''

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{{Portal:Current events/Month Inclusion|2003 August}}

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{{Portal:Current events/August 2003/Sidebar}}

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==References==

A timeline of events in the news for [[August]], [[2003]].

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|August 2003}}

'''See also:'''

{{events by month links|year=2003|prefix=Portal:Current events/}}

*[[Afghanistan timeline]]

*[[2003 California recall|California recall]]

*[[Dodgy Dossier]]

*[[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|''Columbia investigation'']]

*[[European Union|''EU enlargement'']]

*[[Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23|''Hong Kong Basic Law'']]

*[[Hutton Inquiry]]

*[[Politics of Liberia|''Liberian crisis'']]

*[[North Korea nuclear weapons program|''North Korea crisis'']]

*[[2003 occupation of Iraq|''Occupation of Iraq'']]: [[2003 Iraq war timeline|''Timeline'']]

*[[Road map for peace]]

*[[Same-sex marriage in Canada|''Same-sex marriage'']]

*[[Severe acute respiratory syndrome|''SARS'']]: [[Progress of the SARS outbreak|''Timeline'']]

*[[SCO v. IBM Linux lawsuit]]

*[[Trade war over genetically modified food|''US v. EU on GM food'']]

*[[2003 US-Canada blackout|''US-Canada blackout'']]

*[[War on Terrorism]]

==[[Category:August 31]], [[|2003]]==

[[Category:2003|*2003-08]]

* Tens of thousands of people turn out in [[Baghdad]] for the funeral procession of the murdered [[Shia Muslim]] leader Ayatollah [[Sayed Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3195163.stm] The [[Iraq]]i police handling the investigation say they have arrested 19 men in connection with the blast, many of them foreigners and all with admitted links to [[al-Qaeda]]. [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/24/iraq/main541815.shtml]

[[Category:Months in the 2000s|*2003-08]]

* The U.S. [[Environmental Protection Agency]] declassifies [[carbon dioxide]] as a pollutant, a move seen as leading to the elimination of restrictions on industrial emissions of the controversial gas. Climate scientists have debated carbon dioxide's role in [[global warming]] for over a decade, with most voices (though notably fewer within the US) calling it the biggest factor, while others call it neglible. [http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=438719]

[[Category:Current events archives]]

* [[2003 occupation of Iraq timeline|''Occupation of Iraq'']]: [[United States of America|America]]n and [[Iraq]]i officials are discussing the possibility of forming a large Iraqi [[militia]] or paramilitary force to help improve security in the country. [http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030831/ZNYT03/308310472]

* [[Terrorism|Terrorist]]: Terrorism group [[Jemaah Islamiyah]] has schemes, revealed in a 40-page [[manifesto]] (the [[Pupji book]] or ''[[General Guide to the Struggle of Jemaah Islamiyah]]''), for a [[suicide bombing]] campaign designed to change [[Asia]] and the [[Pacific]] region into [[Islam]]ic provinces. Jemaah Islamiyah is also shown to be a well-formed organization with a [[constitution]], [[rules of operation]], and [[leadership structure]]. [http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7128251%255E401,00.html]

* [[Afghanistan timeline|Afghanistan]]: [[Soldier]]s are killed in a remote region (near the town of [[Shkin]]) near the [[Pakistan]]i border. [[Taliban]] reinforcements moved into mountainous region in southern Afghanistan where U.S. and Afghan forces have been attacking hideouts in a battle over the past week. [http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20030831_539.html]

==[[August 30]], [[2003]]==

*[[Software patent]]s: After protests, the [[European Parliament]] has postponed its decision about legality of patents on software in the [[European Union]] from September 1st to September 22nd. [http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/0,1518,263716,00.html]

*[[World Trade Organization|WTO]] deal to allow poor countries to bypass [[drug]] [[patent]]s and [[import]] cheap copies to treat [[AIDS]], [[malaria]] and [[tuberculosis]]. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5381-2003Aug30.html]

*[[Natural disaster]]: [[France|French]] official first report from the Institut de Veille Sanitaire was presented to [[Jean-François Mattei]] (Health Minister). It reports 11,500 more deaths than the previous three years would be due to the heat wave of early August. It had previously been suggested that the number was 3,000.

*[[Russia|Russian]] [[nuclear]] [[submarine]] of [[K-159]] November class sinks in the [[Barents Sea]]. The sub was decommissioned and it had 10 crew on board. The incident comes three years after Russia's worst peacetime naval disaster when all 118 crew of the nuclear submarine [[Kursk]] died when it sank in the Barents Sea on 12 August 2000. Environmental organizations say that the submarine could be dangerous for fishes, because radioactive material could leak to the sea from its two nuclear reactors. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3193625.stm]

==[[August 29]], [[2003]]==

* [[Najaf]], [[Iraq]]: A car bomb explodes during prayers outside the holiest shrine for [[Shiite]]s, [[Imam Ali Mosque]] ([[Tomb of Ali]]), just as main weekly prayers are ending. More than 125 people are killed, including the influential [[cleric]] [[Ayatollah]] [[Sayed Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim]], the Shiite leader of the [[Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq]] (SCIRI). Dozens are injured. [http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-08-29-iraq-mosque_x.htm] [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/24/iraq/main541815.shtml][http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/08/29/sprj.irq.main/index.html] [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,95987,00.html] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3191137.stm] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=V0HR5D2BZPQEOCRBAEKSFFA?type=topNews&storyID=3357653]

* [[Israel]] is alleged to have contingency plans to bomb an [[Iran]]ian [[nuclear power]] plant if it begins producing weapons grade material. [http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_814399.html]

* Tensions flare again over the main [[religion|religious]] site in [[Jerusalem]], the ___location of both the [[Temple Mount]] and the [[Noble Sanctuary]]. The [[holy site]] had been closed to non-Muslims since September 2000. [[Israel]]i officials say they are maintaining calm over a site sacred to three religions. But [[Muslim]] authorities say the Israeli government is risking a backlash here and throughout the Muslim world. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=68&ncid=68&e=4&u=/nyt/20030829/ts_nyt/jerusalemholysiteatensecrossroadsagain]

* [[2003 occupation of Iraq timeline|''Occupation of Iraq'']]: [[General]] in [[Iraq]] says more [[soldier]]s are not needed. The [[United States|American]] Coalition commander encouraged [[Muslim]] allies like [[Turkey]] and [[Pakistan]] to send peacekeepers and said accelerating the training of a new Iraqi [[army]] should be considered. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=68&ncid=68&e=6&u=/nyt/20030829/ts_nyt/generaliniraqsaysmoregisarenotneeded]

* [[Tony Blair]]'s communications director, [[Alastair Campbell]], resigns, leaving Blair with none of the three key players he has relied on for the last decade left. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3191937.stm] [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labour/story/0,9061,1031837,00.html]

*The [[Inuit]] of [[Labrador]] sign an agreement with the [[Canadian]] federal government, giving them self-government in a [[1 E10 m2|72,500 sq.km.]] region of northern Labrador called [[Nunatsiavut]]. - [http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030829.winuit/BNStory/National/]

* [[Sage]] may help combat [[Alzheimer's disease]]. Study finds chemical in the herb improves [[memory]]. The study was conducted to verify [[herbalist]]s writings centuries ago. [http://www.msnbc.com/news/958833.asp?0cv=HA00]

*[[Surgery|Surgeons]] in [[Baltimore, Maryland]] remove a woman's [[heart]], rebuild its upper chambers from [[cow]] and human tissue, and reinstall it in her body.[http://www.healthcentral.com/news/NewsFullText.cfm?id=1502664]

*[[United States House of Representatives|Congressman]] [[William J. Janklow]], the only Representative from the state of [[South Dakota]], is charged with vehicular [[manslaughter]] for an accident on [[August 16]] in which Janklow's speeding car ran a stop sign and hit and killed a [[motorcycle|motorcyclist]].[http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2003/08/30/news/state/sta01.txt]

==[[August 28]], [[2003]]==

* [[9/11]]: Nearly two years after the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center, transcripts of [[World Trade Center]] emergency calls are released. Voices of victims are identified on emergency calls and radio transmissions. [http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-08-28-attacks-transcripts_x.htm] [http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/US/sept11_patranscripts030828.html] [http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=776988] [http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1408592,00.html] [http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/82803-911.html]

* [[United Kingdom]] - [[2003 London blackout|''London blackout'']]: A 34 minute [[power outage]] causes major disruptions in rail and Tube services in [[London]] and the South East when one of the National Grid circuits that feeds south London fails at about 6.15 pm. [http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1101931,00.html]

* [[North Korea nuclear weapons program|Nuclear program]]: [[North Korea]] announces that it is in possession of [[nuclear weapons]], has the means to deliver them, and will soon be carrying out a nuclear test to demonstrate this capability. [http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/east/08/28/nkorea.talks/], [http://www.canada.com/news/world/story.asp?id=9AED176F-099D-457A-91BB-E14CD4713A69], [http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=78640634&p=7864y34x], [http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20030828_983.html]

* [[Archaeology]]: Archaeologists have determined how big the triangle-shaped log enclosure was at [[Jamestown, Virginia]] when it was founded in [[1607]]. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/jamestown_fort]

==[[August 27]], [[2003]]==

* [[Astronomy and astrophysics|Astronomy]]: [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] passes [[Earth]] at a distance of under [[1e10 m|55.76 million]] [[kilometer]]s, the closest it's been in approximately 60,000 [[year]]s [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/23/1061529376531.html] [http://www.space.com/spacewatch/where_is_mars.html]

* Private [[Jessica Lynch]], whose rescue from an [[Iraq]]i hospital has been surrounded by controversy, is honourably discharged from the [[United States]] [[Army National Guard]].

* [[2003 occupation of Iraq timeline|''Occupation of Iraq'']]: According to a [[USA Today]]/[[CNN]]/[[Gallup Poll|Gallup]] [[Survey sampling|poll]], nearly two-thirds (63%) of Americans polled say the war in Iraq was worth fighting. [http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-08-27-poll-usat_x.htm]

* [[Israeli-Palestinian conflict]]: [[Palestinian]] leader [[Yasser Arafat]] calls on militant groups to reinstate a ceasefire they formally ended last week after a [[Hamas]] leader was killed by [[Israel]]i [[gunship]]s. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3184671.stm]

* [[Separation of church and state]]: The controversial ''[[Ten Commandments]]'' monument in Alabama's Supreme Court building is removed from public view, following a court order stating that the monument's ___location in the court building breaches the separation of church and state. The monument, nicknamed ''Roy's Holy Rock'', was installed two years ago by the conservative [[Christian]] Chief Justice [[Roy Moore]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3185795.stm] [http://www.foxnews.com.edgesuite.net/story/0,2933,95805,00.html] Only one in five (20%) [[United States|American]]s approve of the [[federal]] [[court order]] under which workers removed the ''Ten Commandments'' monument from the rotunda of [[Alabama]]'s state judicial building Wednesday, according to a new [[Survey sampling|poll]]. [http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/08/27/ten.commandments/index.html]

* [[Crime]]: Seven people, including the gunman, are killed in a [[shooting]] in [[Chicago]] as a worker opens fire on his colleagues at a car parts store. The police shoot the gunman dead. [http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1101806,00.html]

* [[Crime]]: A painting by [[Leonardo da Vinci]], the ''[[Madonna with the Yarnwinder]]'' is stolen from [[Drumlanrig Castle]] in [[Scotland]], the home of the Duke of Buccleuch.

* [[Crime]]: A body of a woman is found in a shallow grave on a beach near [[Dundalk]] in the [[Republic of Ireland]]. It is suspected to be the body of [[Jean McConville]], a young Belfast woman and mother of ten children kidnapped and murdered by the [[Provisional IRA]] in the mid [[1970s]]. The IRA had suggested two years ago that McConville was buried in the vicinity. Previous attempts to find her remains had failed. [http://www.rte.ie/news/2003/0827/remains.html]

* [[Crime]]: Two bombs explode at the [[Emeryville, California]] corporate offices of [[Chiron (corporation)]]; electronic mail sent to reporters from [[Revolutionary Cells]] claims responsibility.

==[[August 26]], [[2003]]==

* [[War on Terrorism]]: [[George W. Bush|President Bush]], speaking to [[American Legion]] veterans convention, defends the Iraq policy, declaring the [[United States]] had hit [[terrorism]] in overthrowing the [[government]] of [[Saddam Hussein]]. President Bush vows "''no retreat''" from [[Iraq]]. President Bush also states that the United States may carry out other pre-emptive strikes. [http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/26/politics/26CND-BUSH.html?ex=1062561600&en=a67d20396725c83f&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=5US0G1FK0PWPECRBAELCFEY?type=topNews&storyID=3340445] [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/08/26/politics/main570110.shtml] [http://www.msnbc.com/news/957431.asp?0si=-] [http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-08-26-bush-speech_x.htm]

* [[Space Shuttle program]]: [[Columbia Accident Investigation Board]] (CAIB) releases 200 page final dossier over the space shuttle [[Space Shuttle Columbia|Columbia]]'s [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|destruction]] (and the death of its seven [[astronaut]]s). It states the cause is from [[NASA]]'s cultural traits, lack of funds, and insufficient safety program. [http://www.caib.us/news/report/default.html] [http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/08/26/sprj.colu.shuttle.report/index.html] [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/08/26/columbia/main570101.shtml] [http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-08-26-shuttle-report_x.htm]

* [[Technology]]: [[California]] [[Supreme Court]] rules that publishers could be barred from posting [[DVD]] descrambling [[code]] ([[DeCSS]]) online without infringing on [[free speech]] [[right]]s. [http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/32482.html] [http://www.businessweek.com/technology/cnet/stories/5067665.htm]

* [[O. J. Simpson]], giving an interview to [[Playboy]], states that he is still innocent, but says "''dream team''" lawyers saved him. Without the money to pay for a "''dream team''" of lawyers, he says he would not have prevailed by being acquitted. In the interview, he also states that after his acquittal he smoked [[marijuana]] to get to sleep. [http://www.playboy.com/magazine/interview.html] [http://www.nbc30.com/news/2433282/detail.html] [http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/0803/26ojay.html] [http://u.redlandsdailyfacts.com/Stories/0,1413,217~24250~1585969,00.html]

*Former British Prime Minister Sir [[Edward Heath]] is flown home from his holiday in [[Salzburg]], [[Austria]] to receive treatment in [[London]] for [[pulmonary embolism]]. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,3605,1029928,00.html]

==[[August 25]], [[2003]]==

*Two [[explosion]]s, apparently caused by [[car bomb]]s placed in taxis, kills at least 44 and injures a further 150 in [[Mumbai]], [[India]]. It is the sixth bombing in Mumbai in a year. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3178893.stm]

*In [[Australia]]'s [[One Nation Party]] case, it has been revealed that [[Federal]] [[Cabinet]] [[Minister]] [[Tony Abbott]] controlled "[[slush fund]]s" which were used to lay the groundwork for party leader [[Pauline Hanson]]'s prosecution, and to guarantee a private [[lawsuit]] against the party. [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/25/1061663736939.html]. [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal]] ranks split as Abbot's colleague [[Bronwyn Bishop]] joined many [[Australian Labor Party|Labor]] [[Member of Parliament|MP's]] in calling for disclosure of his role in the case, and described Hanson as a "[[political prisoner]]". Remarkably, the nearly defunct One Nation Party's support surged to 21% on news of Hanson's imprisonment. [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/25/1061663736886.html]

*The [[Tli Cho]] land claims agreement is signed in [[Canada]]'s [[Northwest Territories]]. It grants the [[Dogrib]] people self-government in an area the size of [[Belgium]]. [http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/08/25/landclaim030825]

*[[Pete Sampras]] announces his retirement from competitive [[tennis]].

*Two [[Iran]]ian intelligence officers are charged in connection with the death of [[Canada|Canadian]] photojournalist [[Zahra Kazemi]]. [http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/08/25/kazemi_charges030825]

==[[August 24]], [[2003]]==

*[[NASA]] launches the [[Space Infrared Telescope Facility]] on a [[Delta 2]] rocket. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3163257.stm]

*[[Hurricane]] Ignacio approaches the coast of [[Baja California]]. Harbours and airports close and low-lying areas are evacuated. [http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030824.wmex0824/BNStory/International/]

*[[Little League World Series]]: [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]] defeats [[Boynton Beach, Florida]], 10-1. The Tokyo team went undefeated in the tournament, defeating the [[Saudi Arabia]] team 17-0, with a [[perfect game]] pitched by four Japanese pitchers, and the [[mercy rule]] invoked after four innings.

==[[August 23]], [[2003]]==

* In an unprecedented move, the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[government]] submit thousands of official documents (many of which would not normally be seen by the public for 30 years) to the [[Hutton Inquiry]], and publication on the Internet. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3176329.stm][http://www.the-hutton-inquiry.org.uk/]

*[[Natural disaster]]: [[Wildfire|Wildfires]] sweep into the southern suburbs of [[Kelowna, British Columbia]], [[Canada]], destroying more than 200 homes. 30,000 people, or one-third of the city's population, have been evacuated.[http://globeandmail.ca/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030823.wfire0823_3/BNStory/Front/]

* [[Israeli-Palestinian conflict]]: [[Palestinian]] leaders state they will try to negotiate a new ceasefire by [[extremist group]]s and urge [[Israel]] to stop their action against top militants. [http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2003-08-23-mideast_x.htm] [http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=D639B5D4-B2CF-4945-9121D505F1B3004B]

* [[Power outage]] happens all of Southern [[Finland]] for 30 to 60 minutes, because one underground line in Central [[Helsinki]] short circuits. The lack of electricity begins at 20:20 and causes radio broadcasts, public lights, elevators, trains, trams and metro traffic to stop. Also people have to be evacuated in [[Linnanmäki]] amusement park.[http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/tuoreet/artikkeli/1061299237915] [http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/arkisto.shtml?2003/08/182357]

* [[2003 California recall|California recall]]: [[Republican]] [[Bill Simon]] drops out of the California gubernatorial recall race. [http://www.msnbc.com/news/945950.asp]

* [[Iran]] makes protest and cuts diplomatic ties with [[Argentina]] over the arrest in [[United Kingdom|Britain]] of its former [[ambassador]] with the United Kingdom and Argentina for the alleged bombing Jewish community centre in [[Buenos Aires]] in 1994 in which 85 people died. [http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=CF915034-AD78-4D66-AFC45C3A0EA9C36D][http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3177099.stm]

* [[John Geoghan]], a [[defrocked]] [[Roman Catholic]] [[priest]] and convicted [[Pedophilia|child molester]], dies following an attack in [[prison]]. Initial reports say that he was [[strangled]] to death.[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/07/30/national/main565770.shtml] [http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/08/23/geoghan/] [http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20030823_985.html]

==[[August 22]], [[2003]]==

* A [[Brazilian Space Agency]] [[VLS-1]] [[space]] [[rocket]] [[explosion|explodes]] on its launch-pad at [[Alcantara]] space base, killing at least 21 people. It is thought that one of the rocket's four motors caught fire; the subsequent explosion destroyed the rocket, its cargo of two satellites, and the launch-pad, as well as the deaths of many of Brazil's space-specialists, causing an estimated US$12m worth of damage. This ends Brazil's third attempt since [[1997]] at becoming a space power. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=LD3YB2PO413JUCRBAEKSFFA?type=topNews&storyID=3324417][http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3175131.stm]

*[[Natural disaster]]: Ecuador's [[Tungurahua]] [[volcano]] sends a column of smoke and ash three kilometres into the air. [http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7030468%255E1702,00.html]

*[[Natural disaster]]: [[Wildfire]] forces around 10,000 people from their homes in [[British Columbia]]. This is Western [[Canada]]'s worst fire season in decades. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=585&ncid=585&e=2&u=/nm/20030822/sc_nm/environment_fires_canada_dc]

* [[2003 occupation of Iraq timeline|Occupation of Iraq]]: [[United Nations]] [[UN Security Council|Security council]] members are split on the issue of [[Iraq]]. [[France]], [[Russia]], [[People's Republic of China]], and [[Germany]] are proposing differing ways to expand the United Nations mandate in Iraq beyond humanitarian aid and reconstruction. [[Secretary of State of the United States]] [[Colin Powell]] states that there is no plan to cede authority to the United Nations from the Coalition forces. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3172819.stm] Powell also sought a new Security Council resolution that would involve other nations to contribute troops and aid in securing and rebuilding Iraq. [http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/22/international/worldspecial/22NATI.html?ex=1062129600&en=fbcb6dd5ee328053&ei=5062&amp]

* [[War on Terrorism]] - [[Canal Hotel bombing|Canal Hotel]]: Investigators focus on the possibility that former [[Iraq]]i [[intelligence agent]]s working as [[security guard]]s may have assisted the attack. [http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-08-22-us-soldiers-killed_x.htm]

* [[Israeli-Palestinian conflict]]: [[Palestinian]] militants and the [[Israel]]i Government vow to continue attacks on each other after the [[terrorist]] attacks and bloodshed. [[Hamas]] and [[Palestinian Islamic Jihad|Islamic Jihad]] release an official joint statement on their participation ending in the peace plan. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3173107.stm] They urge militant cells in Palestine to strike. Israeli security officials state this is "''only the beginning''" of responses to Palestinian attacks. [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/22/1061529339585.html] [http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=D0E6F572-0ECB-4153-AF76EE7434694F8E]

* [[War on Terrorism]]: [[President of the United States]] [[George W. Bush]] announces a freeze on the assets of the [[Palestinian]] militant leaders of [[Hamas]] and organizations financially supporting the "terrorist organization". The action is taken due to the fact that Hamas officially claims responsibility for the act of terror on [[August 19]]. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&ncid=578&e=3&u=/nm/20030822/ts_nm/mideast_usa_hamas_dc] [http://asia.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=3323243]

* Efforts by US broadcaster [[Fox News]] to seek an injunction preventing [[satire|satirist]] [[Al Franken]] from publishing a book backfire as the judge not merely refuses their request but ridicules it. Judge Denny Chin told ''Fox'', which had claimed that the subtitle of the book, which included the words "fair and balanced", infringed on their [[trademark]] of the term, "this is an easy case. This case is wholly without merit, both factually and legally". Chin added "It is ironic that a media company, which should be protecting the First Amendment (guaranteeing free speech), is seeking to undermine it." Franken, who as a result of the Fox case had received massive media exposure, commented "I'd like to thank Fox's lawyers for filing one of the stupidest briefs I've ever seen in my life." [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/08/12/entertainment/main567800.shtml]

* [[Separation of church and state]]: [[Alabama]]'s [[Chief Justice]] [[Roy Moore]] is suspended by a Judicial Ethics Panel over his refusal to remove a monument listing the [[Ten Commandments]] which he had installed in the state Supreme Court building. Moore had been ordered to remove the controversial monument by U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson, who in a judgment in [[2002]] said the monument "violates the constitution's ban on government promotion of a religious doctrine". Thompson's judgment was upheld by eight Associate Justices. Their ruling was criticised by Moore and the [[Christian Defense Coalition]], who have threatened to block the court building to prevent the monument's removal. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=3&u=/ap/20030822/ap_on_re_us/ten_commandments_59] [http://www.foxnews.com.edgesuite.net/story/0,2933,95416,00.html]

==[[August 21]], [[2003]]==

* [[2003 occupation of Iraq timeline|Occupation of Iraq]]: General [[Ali Hassan al-Majid]] (''Chemical Ali'') is reportedly captured in [[Iraq]]. He had previously been reported dead. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/08/21/uchem.xml&sSheet=/portal/2003/08/21/ixportaltop.html] [http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2003/08/21082003133538.asp] [http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/08/21/sprj.irq.main/index.html]

* [[Israeli-Palestinian conflict]]: [[Israel]] kills senior [[Hamas]] official, [[Ismail Abu Shanab]], by a [[missile]] strike in the [[Gaza Strip]] and sent [[tank]]s into the West Bank towns of [[Nablus]], [[Jenin]] and [[Tulkarem]] in response to a deadly [[suicide bombing]] of a bus in [[Jerusalem]]. In [[Hebron]], troops destroy the terrorist bomber's home. [http://www.msnbc.com/news/801833.asp?0si=-&cp1=1] [http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2003-08-21-mideast_x.htm] [[Hamas]] and [[Islamic Jihad]] end their participation in the cease fire (in response to Israel's action from the two groups' bombing), declaring themselves as enemies to the peace plan, and vow futher terrorist acts. [http://www.heraldnet.com/Stories/03/8/21/17374258.cfm] [http://www.cbn.com/CBNNews/News/030821b.asp] [http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/08/21/mideast/index.html] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3170115.stm] [http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/reuters20030821_214.html] The militants demand that [[Palestinian]] [[prime minister]], [[Mahmoud Abbas]], leave their area of control.

*[[Canada|Canadian]] transport minister [[David Collenette]] announces that [[Montreal Dorval International Airport]] will be renamed in September for former prime minister [[Pierre Trudeau]]. [http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/08/21/trudeau_airport030821]

==[[August 20]], [[2003]]==

* [[War on Terrorism]] - [[Canal Hotel bombing|Canal Hotel]]: US officials comment terror group linked to [[al Qaeda]], [[Ansar al-Islam]], is emerging as a top suspect in the U.N. headquarters bombing in [[Baghdad]]. "It's part of a global [[war]] against [[terrorism]] that was officially declared on us on [[September 11]]. It's quite clear we do have [[terrorist]]s inside [[Iraq]] now." [http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/08/20/sprj.irq.main/index.html]

*[[Natural disaster]]: [[France|French]] [[undertaker]]s state that 10,000 more French people died during the early August summer heatwave than the first two weeks of August in [[2002]]. It had previously been suggested that the number was 3,000. President [[Jacques Chirac]] demands reports from cabinet ministers on the crisis, while in [[Italy]] the newspaper ''[[La Repubblica]]'' suggests that Italy had 2000 more deaths than normal due to the heatwave. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3167925.stm]

* A 4-week-old boy, born to [[Nigeria]]n parents, dies after a botched home [[circumcision]] by a friend of the boy's parents, in the [[Republic of Ireland]]. The [[Garda Siochána]] are searching for the man, who had no medical qualifications. [http://www.rte.ie/news/2003/0820/baby.html]

* One of the holiest sites in [[Jerusalem]], known to Jews as the [[Temple Mount]] and to Muslims as the [[Haram al-Sharif]] or the ''Noble Sanctuary'', is re-opened to controversy. Jerusalem's police chief, Mickey Levey says the decision was taken before the most recent suicide bombing. However the decision is condemned by the [[Grand Mufti of Jerusalem]], Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, who says the re-opening was done without the agreement of the [[Waqf]], the Muslim authority that oversees the site. Palestinians from outside Jerusalem who are under the age of 40 are currently barred from entering. The compound includes the [[al-Aqsa Mosque]] and the [[Dome of the Rock]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3167717.stm]

* [[2003 California recall|California recall]]: [[Republican]] recall candidate [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] promises to take quick action. [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/08/19/politics/main568995.shtml]

* A computer worm called W32.Welchia.Worm infects computers across the internet. The virus has been labeled "good" by some, because it attempts to remove W32.Blaster.Worm, and downloads the Windows security patch which prevents W32.Blaster.Worm infections before spreading to other computers. It will also remove itself once the date hits 2004. [http://www.canada.com/vancouver/news/story.asp?id=1999F9CA-ED14-4020-B334-E046D9D5E584] [http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,112090,00.asp] [http://www.atnewyork.com/news/article.php/3065761] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17672-2003Aug19.html] [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/08/20/uvirus.xml&sSheet=/portal/2003/08/20/ixportaltop.html]

* [[Israeli-Palestinian conflict]]: [[Palestinian]] [[prime minister]], [[Mahmoud Abbas]], breaks negotiations with the [[Islamic]] militant groups [[Hamas]] and [[Islamic Jihad]] in response to the bombing in Jerusalem. [http://www.iht.com/articles/107065.html] [[Israel]] notifies the public that it will retaliate with [[military]] strikes for bus bombing. [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/08/12/world/main567751.shtml] There are conflicting reports that Isreal will hold off on the attacks to see if the Palestinian administration takes action against terrorist groups. [http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20030820_457.html]

* Fighting persists in [[Chechnya]], with six [[Russia]]n servicemen killed and 11 others wounded in the war-ravaged region.

* [[Pauline Hanson]], former leader of the [[Australia]]n anti-immigration [[One Nation Party]], is sentenced in [[Queensland]] to three years in prison for [[Electoral system|electoral]] [[fraud]].

* [[Afghanistan timeline|Afghanistan]]: Afghan [[President]] [[Hamid Karzai]]'s spokesman comments that the issue of [[Taliban]] crossing into [[Afghanistan]] from [[Pakistan]] will be discussed during Pakistan Foreign Minister [[Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri]]'s visit to [[Kabul]]. Afghanistan claims Pakistani based Taliban have killed many Afghan [[soldier]]s. [http://paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=35797]

==[[August 19]], [[2003]]==

* [[War on Terrorism]] - [[Canal Hotel bombing|Canal Hotel]]: A [[Canal Hotel truck bomb|truck bomb explosion at the Baghdad Canal Hotel]] that houses the [[United Nations]] mission kills at least 17 people and injures over 100. Among the casualties is [[Sérgio Vieira de Mello]], U.N. special representative in Iraq. The bomb damages a [[hospital]] nearby, and the [[shockwave]] is felt a mile away. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3163877.stm] [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/24/iraq/main541815.shtml] [http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-08-19-iraq-unblast_x.htm]

* 20 killed, 136 wounded by an explosion on board an [[Israel]]i bus in [[Jerusalem]]. Among the victims are several [[child|children]]. The explosion was caused by a [[Palestinian]] [[suicide bomber]]. The [[Palestinian Islamic Jihad]] in [[Hebron]] claims responsibility for the attack. There are conflicting reports that [[Hamas]] is reponsible for the bombing. Israeli government reportedly freezes [[road map for peace]] negotiations. In the following days, two additional victims died of their wounds, raising the death toll to 22. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,95150,00.html] [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3302933] [http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3303310] [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1061318328538_25///?hub=TopStories]

* [[War on Terrorism]]: A [[Morocco|Moroccan]] court sentences four men to death and jails 83 others for their involvement in a wave of terror attacks in [[Casablanca]] that killed 33 bystanders and a dozen suicide bombers in [[May 2003]]. The trial involved dozens of defendants accused of belonging to a clandestine Moroccan group, the [[Salafia Jihadia]]. Moroccan authorities have linked the group to [[Osama bin Laden]]'s [[al-Qaida]] network.

* [[2003 occupation of Iraq timeline|Occupation of Iraq]]: [[Iraq|Iraqi]] [[Vice President]] [[Taha Yassin Ramadan]], disguised as an [[Arab]] [[Bedouin]], has been captured. Ramadan served as Saddam's thug and a member of Iraq's [[Revolutionary Command Council]]. [[Kurd]]ish group claims responsibility for the capture of Ramadan. He was handed over to Coalition forces in [[Mosul]]. [http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20030819_261.html] [http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/08/19/sprj.irq.main/index.html] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3163219.stm]

* [[Afghanistan]] celebrates its Independence Day amid one of the bloodiest weeks in a year, with heavily armed [[guerrilla]]s killing at least nine policemen in the latest in a string of ambushes. In the last week, the country has been battered by an onslaught from insurgents, who are believed to be a mix of guerrillas from the ousted [[Taliban]] regime, [[al-Qaida]] fighters and supporters of renegade warlord [[Gulbuddin Hekmatyar]]. [http://www.deepikaglobal.com/ENG4_sub.asp?ccode=ENG4&newscode=19401]

* The [[International Survivors Action Committee]] releases a 152-page [http://www.isaccorp.com/tbj/tranquilityreport.doc report] on the controversial [[Tranquility Bay]] behavior correction facility.

*[[Natural disaster]]: Start of the Booth and Bear Butte [[forest fire]]s in the [[Cascade Mountains]], the worst fire in [[Oregon]] of this year. Within three days the resort community of [[Camp Sherman]] is evacuated, affecting 1,500 residents and campers, closure of US highway 20 over [[Santiam Pass]], and burning at least 41,000 acres.

==[[August 18]], [[2003]]==

* [[War on Terrorism]]: Arab television airs an audio tape allegedly from [[al Qaeda]] official [[Abdel Rahman al-Najdi]] saying [[Osama bin Laden]] and [[Taliban]] chief [[Mullah Omar]] are alive. The tape advocates [[Muslim]]s to commit [[Terrorism|terroristic acts]] and fight the Coalition forces in [[Iraq]]. [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/08/18/1061059775995.html] [http://onenews.nzoom.com/onenews_detail/0,1227,214130-1-9,00.html] [http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/reuters20030818_7.html]

* [[Terrorism|Terrorist]]s associated with [[al-Qaida]] releases a statement in which it claims responsibility for the [[2003 US-Canada blackout|blackout]]. The statement says that the group acted on [[Osama bin Laden]]'s orders. [http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20030819-115814-4860r.htm], [http://gandalf.ics.uci.edu/blog/2003/08/al_qaeda_claims_responsibility_for_power_blackout.html], [http://english.daralhayat.com/arab_news/08-2003/Article-20030818-14bdd659-c0a8-01ed-0079-6e1c903b7552/story.html]

==[[August 17]], [[2003]]==

* [[2003 US-Canada blackout|Major blackout]]: investigators now believe the blackout began in [[Ohio]]. [[FirstEnergy Corporation]], which services 1.4 million people in the state, released a statement Saturday that three of its transmission lines tripped off at Unit 5 of their [[Eastlake, Ohio|Eastlake]] Plant hours before the blackout, and may have been its cause. [http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/08/17/power.outage/index.html]

* Terrorists again fired on children in [[Gorazdevac]], near [[Pec]], this time while they were in the center of the village. No children were injured in this incident, just 4 days since the last. [http://www.b92.net/english/news/index.php?&nav_category=&nav_id=24251&order=priority&style=headlines]

* [[Sabotage|Saboteur]]s cause a series of [[explosion]]s that damaged [[oil]] and [[water]] pipelines in [[Iraq]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3158605.stm][http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3290208]

* [[Iceland]] resumes [[whaling]], 14 [[year]]s after it stopped [[commercial]] whaling in [[1989]]. It says that it will hunt 38 [[Minke Whale|minke whales]] for [[research]] on the impact of the [[whale]]s on [[fish]] stocks. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=570&ncid=570&e=1&u=/nm/20030817/sc_nm/iceland_whaling_dc_6] [http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/ap/ap_story.html/Intl/AP.V3036.AP-Iceland-Whale-H.html] [http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=3289344]

* [[Canada|Canadian]] Prime Minister [[Jean Chrétien]] appoints [[Hermenegilde Chiasson]] [[lieutenant governor]] of [[New Brunswick]].

* A [[Palestinian]] cameraman working for [[Reuters]], [[Mazen Dana]], is shot dead by a Coalition [[tank]] crew in [[Iraq]] while trying to film around Abu Ghraib [[prison]], after a [[mortar]] attack on the prison. The tank crew mistook the camera for a [[grenade launcher]]. [http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=435156]

==[[August 16]], [[2003]]==

* [[2003 US-Canada blackout|Major blackout]]: Power is now restored in [[New York City]], [[Toronto]], and most of [[Ottawa]]. Authorities warn of possible future disruptions and advise conservation as work continues to restore power to the entire grid. Theories as to the cause of the event, meanwhile, are becoming more substantial and coherent [http://www.statesman.com/asection/content/auto/epaper/editions/saturday/news_f3d37d90212c526210d1.html].

* [[West Virginia]]: [[Kanawha County, West Virginia|Kanawha County]] [[Sheriff]]'s office reports that a string of four fatal shootings over the past week were linked by [[ballistics]] testing to the same type of weapon. The perpetrator(s) remain at large. [http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/South/08/16/W.virginia.shootings/index.html][http://wvgazette.com/section/News/2003081514]. The incident is reminiscent of the 2002 [[Beltway sniper attacks]].

* [[Idi Amin]], whose eight years as [[president]] of [[Uganda]] were characterized by bizarre and murderous behavior, died in [[Saudi Arabia]]. [http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82~1865~1574344,00.html]

==[[August 15]], [[2003]]==

* Power is restored to many, but not all areas of the north-eastern [[United States]] and [[Canada]] affected by the previous day's blackout [http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1019512,00.html]. Investigations into the root cause of the grid collapse are currently focusing on transmission lines circling [[Lake Erie]] [http://www.abcnews4.com/news/stories/0803/98836.html].

* [[Libya]] formally accepts responsibility for the [[1988]] bombing of [[Pan Am Flight 103]]. It consists of general language that lacks expression of remorse for lives lost. [http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/international/middleeast/16NATI.html?ex=1061611200&en=5387c2ece8da7744&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE] Although some claim the acceptance is just a business deal and not a true admission of guilt. [http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/story.jsp?story=434456]

*Prince [[Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein]] announces that he will [[abdication|abdicate]] the throne in [[2004]], in favor of his son, [[Alois of Liechtenstein|Prince Alois]].

==[[August 14]], [[2003]]==

*[[2003 US-Canada blackout|A major power outage]] due to a power grid failure affects more than 50 million people in the northeast of [[North America]], including [[New York City]], [[New Jersey]], [[Cleveland]], [[Ottawa]], [[Toronto]] and [[Detroit]] [http://www.sunspot.net/news/nationworld/bal-newyork0815,0,2936608.story?coll=bal-home-headlines] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59083-2003Aug14.html] [http://www.cjad.com/content/cjad_news/article.asp?id=n081461A] [http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/power_outage030814.html ABC] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3152451.stm BBC] [http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/08/14/power.outage/index.html CNN]. According to U.S. authorities, the cause is still unclear; according to the [[Canadian Department of National Defense]], the chain reaction was started by a [[lightning]] strike in the [[Niagara Falls]] region on the U.S. side of the border [http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20030814_1766.html]. A press release with some technical details of the event is a available at [http://www.nerc.com/]. The [[Nuclear Regulatory Commission|NRC]] reports that all 9 affected [[nuclear power plant]]s have been safely shut down [http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/news/2003/03-102.html].

*[[Heat wave]]: [[France|French]] health officials estimate that as many as 3,000 people may have died in France as a result of the heat wave. Fatalities and illnesses are swamping the French health system. The city of [[Paris]] launches its ''Plan blanc'' emergency response procedure. However, temperatures in Paris have now dropped from 40°C to 30°C. [http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/08/14/heat_france030814]

*[[SARS]]: Public health officials are investigating seven deaths and several infections in an outbreak that resembles, but is not believed to be, SARS in a nursing home in [[Surrey, British Columbia]] (a suburb of [[Vancouver, British Columbia|Vancouver]]). However, until more is known about the disease, the home will be treated as a SARS site for safety's sake. [http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030814.wvirus0814a/BNStory/Front/] <!--reported by Reuters Thu August 14, 2003 02:38 PM ET -->

* A single-[[Biological cell|cell]]ed [[microbe]], of the [[___domain (biology)|___domain]] [[Archaea]], is found to be able to survive at 121&deg;[[Celsius|C]] (250&deg;[[Fahrenheit|F]]), making it the [[life]] form that can tolerate the highest [[temperature]]. The microbe, temporarily named ''Strain 121'', which was found 200 [[mile]]s away from [[Puget Sound]] in a [[hydrothermal vent]], may provide clues to when and where life first [[evolve]]d on [[Earth]]. It [[metabolism|metabolizes]] by [[reduction|reducing]] [[iron oxide]]. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1019156,00.html] [http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994058] [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/08/030815075108.htm] [http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2003/08/15/newly_found_microbe_can_take_a_lot_of_heat]

*[[Terrorism]]: Hambali, an important leader of [[Jemaah Islamiyah]], is in U.S. custody after being captured in Thailand. [http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/08/14/otsc.ressa/]

*[[Politics of Liberia|Liberian crisis]]: News services are reporting that [[Moses Blah]] met with Sekou Conneh of the [[Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy]] (LURD) group and Thomas Nimley of a smaller faction known as Model. Meanwhile, [[the Pentagon]] expands the [[United States]]' military presence by adding a "''quick reaction''" force of 150 combat troops to back up Nigerian peacekeepers. [http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20030814_534.html] [http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/reuters08-14-085224.asp?reg=AFRICA]

*[[Israeli-Palestinian conflict]]: [[Israel]] frees another 76 prisoners, a week after releasing more than 300 people. Israel argues that it is a gesture of goodwill and in accordance with agreements. The Palestinian authority disagrees and says that most not arrested for [[terrorist]] activities, and that it was the people arrested for the latter that Israel originally agreed to release. Palestinian officials want the release of 6000 prisoners, many of whom it claims were wrongly arrested, to obtain public support for the [[US]]-backed [[road map for peace]]. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=721&e=1&u=/nm/20030815/wl_nm/mideast_dc]

==[[August 13]], [[2003]]==

* Ivan Jovovic and Bogdan Bukomiric, both 16 years old, from [[Gorazdevac]] near [[Pec]] die after two attackers fired from [[AK-47]] on group of children from Gorazdevac who were bathing in river [[Bistrica]]. Four children got injured in the attack, two of which are in critical condition. [[UNMIK]] and [[KFOR]] claimed that they transfered one of them, [[Marko Bogicevic]], to [[Belgrade]], but he is actually in German military hospital at [[Prizren]], against his parents' wishes. [[Italians|Italian]] KFOR patrol refused to borrow fuel to car which was transporting wounded children to hospital in [[Pec]], when it ran out of fuel, and took no action when car was stoned by local [[Albanians]]. After finally arriving to [[Pec]], doctors there refused to treat the children. KFOR claims that it researches the ___location of the incident with 300 men.

* Discovery of a [[Saudi Arabia]] [[airplane]] plot. Intelligence agencies producing alerts and relaying them to [[Washington, D.C.]], and [[London]] of a specific threat to airlines flying around [[Riyadh]] international airport. The plan to shoot down a [[British Airways]] plane was discovered after a member of the plot drove his car through a checkpoint in Riyadh. In response to the threat BA cancels all flights to Saudi Arabia until further notice. The United States issues a travel alert for Saudi Arabia citing the threat of [[terrorism]] including potential attacks against [[civil aviation]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3149469.stm] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/saudi/story/0,11599,1018243,00.html] [http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000102&sid=areZazlnvDaA&refer=uk]

* Iraq's northern oil fields resumes exports. [http://www.washtimes.com/business/20030813-093520-6203r.htm]

* Arnold Schwarzenegger names [[Warren Buffett]] as his economic adviser on Wednesday. Mr Buffett will help the actor build a team to lead the state out of its fiscal crisis. [http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1059478997932]

* Disgraced <!-- That is a word universally applied to him. His reputation is such that he was booed by mourners at a funeral he attended, and even when he announced he has terminal cancer, many people still called for him to be jailed and "preferably die in jail"!!!--> Irish former [[Taoiseach]] [[Charles J. Haughey]] sells his historic home and estate, ''Kinsealy'', in north [[Dublin]] to a property developer for 35 million euro. The former taoiseach, whose financial dealings and [[tax-evasion]] is the subject of a judicial inquiry and which have largely destroyed his reputation, bought the palatial mansion, for £120,000 in the [[1960s]]. Haughey, who is suffering from terminal [[prostate cancer]], will not be allowed to remain in the house as a sitting tenant for the rest of his life<!--Don't remove. Haughey having to move out of Kinsealy is like Washington having to move out of Mount Vernon. Irish people worldwide will be shocked (many delighted) to hear he is being forced to move, given his terminal cancer -->, a demand of his which scuppered past attempts to sell.

*[[Same-sex marriage in Canada]]: At its convention in [[Wolfville, Nova Scotia]], the [[United Church of Canada]] votes overwhelmingly to ask the federal government to allow[[same-sex marriage]].

* A [[National Geographic]] team releases the discovery of a new species of large [[dinosaur]], ''[[Rajasaurus Narmadensis]]'', native to the [[India|Indian]] subcontinent. The research effort was made by a joint Indo-American group, including members from the [[University of Michigan]], [[University of Chicago]], and the [[Punjab University]] of Northern India. [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/14/1060588493623.html]

==[[August 12]], [[2003]]==

* [[War on Terrorism]]: An exclusive [[BBC]] report says a joint [[United States]], [[Russia]] and [[United Kingdom]] "sting" halted a plot to shoot down [[Air Force One]] using an [[Igla]] surface to air missile. According to the BBC, the plot, initially unearthed by the Russians, led President [[Vladimir Putin]] to request that an [[FBI]] agent go to [[St. Petersburg]], where the agent posed as an Islamic extremist and met the British arms dealer supplying the missile. The missile was shipped from St. Peterburg to [[Baltimore]] in the United States. The British arms dealer "arranging" the deal was arrested when he arrived in [[Newark]] in the [[United States]] today. The White House has publicly denied that Air Force One was to be the target of the missile. However [[Tom Mangold]], the BBC veteran investigative reporter who broke the story, claims the British dealer supplying the missile recommended to the undercover FBI agent that the President's jet, rather than a commerical jet, be the target, saying that he could get another 60 Ingla missiles which could then be used to launch a co-ordinated attack on Air Force One. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3146025.stm]

* [[U.S.-led occupation of Iraq|Occupation of Iraq]]: The [[Associated Press]] is reporting that [[Soldier|troop]]s in [[Iraq]] should expect to serve for at least a [[year]] according to the commander of United States forces. [http://www.dunnconnect.com/articles/2003/08/12/ap/Headlines/apnews126737-01.txt] [http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2003/08/12/ap/Headlines/apnews126737-01.txt] [http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20030812_1015.html] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3019115,00.html] [http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/ap/ap_story.html/Intl/AP.V9307.AP-Iraq-US-Troops.html] [http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/apmethods/apstory?urlfeed=D7SSID000.xml]

*[[George W. Bush]] nominates former [[NGA]] chairman and current governor of [[Utah]], [[Michael O. Leavitt]] for administrator of the [[Environmental Protection Agency]]. [http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/20030812-072128-2453r.htm]

* [[Israeli-Palestinian conflict]]: Two [[Israeli]]s killed and about a dozen wounded in two separate [[suicide bombing]]s by [[Palestinian]] terrorists in the towns of Rosh-Ha'ayin and [[Ariel]]. [[Hamas]] and the [[Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades]] claimed responsibility for the attacks. The [[IDF]] retaliated on Wednesday by demolishing the house in [[Nablus]] where the bomber in the Rosh Ha-Ayin attack lived with his family, an activity which is specifically outlawed as a war crime by the [[Fourth Geneva Convention]].[http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/08/12/mideast/index.html]

*The [[Serbia]]n government has indicated that it wants to retake control of the province of [[Kosovo]], arguing that the [[United Nations]], which currently has control, has failed to reestablish the [[rule of law]]. [http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/08/12/kosovo030812] [http://www.serbia.sr.gov.yu/news/2003-08/12/330436.html]

* Sir Jocelyn Gore-Booth announces the sale of the historic Lissadell estate in [[County Sligo]] in [[Ireland]], the childhood home of early twentieth century Irish republican Constance Gore-Booth ([[Countess Markievicz]]) and which had major associations with the poet [[W.B. Yeats]]. Critics condemn the Irish government for failing to buy the estate; Sir Jocelyn had offered it first refusal. The identity of the buyer has not yet been revealed but rock singer [[Bono]] had shown major interest in the property. [http://www.rte.ie/news/2003/0812/lissadell.html]

* The remains of a [[viking]] warrior are found at a building site in [[Dublin]]. The warrior had been stabbed to death during a [[ninth century]] viking raid on ''Dubhlinn monastery''. The dagger was still attached to his body when his remains were found. The [[archaeology|archaeological]] dig is expected to continue at the site for six months.

*The Rev. [[Peter Short]] is elected Moderator of the [[United Church of Canada]], the country's largest [[Protestant]] denomination, in [[Wolfville, Nova Scotia]]. [http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/08/12/petershort030812]

* [[Microsoft]] has decided to appeal a verdict to pay $520.6 million from a [[Chicago]] federal [[jury]] that affirms the [[Internet Explorer]] [[browser]] violated Intellectual Property rights of [[Eolas Technologies]] (concerning [[Patent]] US 5838906). [http://www.crn.com/sections/BreakingNews/dailyarchives.asp?ArticleID=43869] [http://www.atnewyork.com/news/article.php/2247661]

==[[August 11]], [[2003]]==

*[[Liberia]]n president [[Charles Taylor]] resigns. He is replaced by vice-president [[Moses Blah]]. [http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030811.wliber0811_4/BNStory/International/]

* [[2003 California recall]]: New California voter survey finds nearly two-thirds of the state's voters want a new governor. [http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=970A64E0-F191-40C8-95A27AEC3AA681C1] [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/08/11/MN296167.DTL] [http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/08/11/recall.strategies/] [http://slate.msn.com/id/2086857/]

* [[Herb Brooks]], the coach of the [[1980]] [[US]] gold medal [[ice hockey]] team that beat the Soviet Union in a game that was called [[The Miracle on Ice]], dies in a car accident.[http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=565&ncid=755&e=1&u=/ap/20030811/ap_on_sp_ho_ne/hko_obit_brooks]

* [[Africa]]n [[church]] leader, [[Archbishop]] [[Bernard Malango]], states that the leaders of 600,000 [[Anglican]]s in [[Malawi]], [[Botswana]], [[Zambia]] and [[Zimbabwe]] informed him they would could cut ties with the [[United States]] organization unless the appointment of an openly [[gay]] bishop is overturned. The Anglican Church in [[Kenya]] also demanded a reversal. [http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/08/11/anglicans.bishop.reut/] [http://www.crosswalk.com/news/weblogs/mohler/?adate=8/11/2003#1214074] [http://www.eastandard.net/headlines/news11082003006.htm]

*[[Europe]]an [[heat wave]]: [[Paris]]ian health authorities charge that fifty people have died in Paris owing to the heat wave, particularly elderly people, and that the government is ignoring the crisis. [http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030810.wheat0811/BNStory/International/] In [[Catalonia]], five people from one family are killed by a wildfire that encircles their home. Four villages are evacuated in the [[Algarve]]. [http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/08/11/euroweather030811]

*Doctors in [[Montreal]] successfully deliver by [[Caesarean section]] a healthy baby who grew in an [[ectopic pregnancy]]. Such a pregnancy, which begins outside the [[womb]], is all but invariably fatal to the fetus and is extremely dangerous to the mother. The woman and her doctors were unaware of the ectopic pregnancy until she went into labour. [http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/08/11/c_section030811]

*[[Lord Hutton|Lord Hutton's]] inquiry into the death of British scientist [[David Kelly|Dr. David Kelly]] begins in [[London]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3141737.stm]

*[[The Spirit of Butts Farm]] becomes the first radio-controlled model aeroplane to cross the [[Atlantic]].

==[[August 10]], [[2003]]==

* 100,000 attend a rally in the [[France|French]] countryside to condemn next month's round of trade liberalisation talks being held under auspices of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in [[Cancun]] in [[Mexico]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3140217.stm]

* [[United Kingdom|British]] police in [[London]] are given 'shoot-on-sight' orders to deal with possible [[suicide bombers]] by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir [[John Stevens]] as expectations rise of an [[Al-Qaeda]] attack on the British capital. [http://www.itv.com/news/1193545.html]

* [[War on Terrorism]]: ''The Sunday Times'' reports that [[Al-Qaeda]] [[terrorist]]s have infiltrated Iraq from surrounding [[Middle East|Arab countries]] and have aligned themselves with former intelligence agents of [[Saddam Hussein]] to fight the Coalition forces. Their attacks have killed Coalition soliders and Iraqi police officers, among others. [http://canada.com/national/story.asp?id=129C5297-C75D-4F68-AB79-B0C49D9A7CBB]

* [[Pope John Paul II]] urges Catholics to pray for rain in Europe as the [[heat wave]] continues. The heatwave in Britain reaches 100° [[Fahrenheit]] (just under 38° [[Celsius]]) at [[Heathrow]], for the first time in history. [http://www.itv.com/news/1193541.html] Warnings of avalanches are issued in the Alps, as mountain glaciers melt.

* [[Liberia]]n President and convicted [[war criminal]] [[Charles Taylor]], who is to step down tomorrow, has appealed to rebels to 'submit to the democratic process'. He also accuses the [[United States]] of funding the rebels who have besieged the capital, [[Monrovia]] for a week. [http://www.rte.ie/news/2003/0810/liberia.html]

* The [[Russia|Russian]] [[Rosaviakosmos|space program]] has the been the first to send a [[man]], a [[dog]], a [[woman]], and a [[tourist]] into [[space]]. And it may be the first to marry a couple in space. [[Yuri Malenchenko]] (41), aboard the international space station, and his bride, [[Yekaterina Dmitriyeva]] (26) in [[Texas]], are making preparations for what seems to be the first cosmic wedding. [http://edition.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/08/10/space.wedding/] [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s921147.htm] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3138941.stm] [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=857&ncid=757&e=10&u=/nm/20030810/od_uk_nm/oukoe_odd_space_ukraine]

* The [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] leader [[Iain Duncan Smith]] demands that [[Prime Minister]] [[Tony Blair]] apologise for the comments of his press secretary, [[Tom Kelly]], in which Kelly compared Dr. [[David Kelly]], the [[BBC]] source who took his own life after his identity was revealed by the Ministry of Defence, to the fictional ''[[Walter Mitty]]'' character. [http://www.itv.com/news/1193542.html]

* 16-year-old [[Israel]]i killed and five other injured in [[Hizbollah]] shelling on the northern Israeli town of Shlomi. Israeli planes attacked Hezbollah targets in [[Lebanon]] in response to the shelling. Some sources claim Hezbollah's attack was a response to Israel's car bomb assassination of Hezbollah member [[Ali Saleh]] in Beirut on August 3 which also seriously injured 2 passers-by. [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/08/10/international1345EDT0475.DTL]

* While Retired [[South Africa]]n Archbishop [[Desmond Tutu]] and his successor, Archbishop [[Njongonkulu Winston Ndungane]], fails to see what "all the fuss" is over the ordination of a [[gay]] bishop, other African Anglicans suggest that their churches may [[schism|sever relations]] with the American dioceses which supported the election of a gay priest as bishop if what they called the "path of deviation" is not changed. [http://www.itv.com/news/2012709.html] [http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0810gay-episcopal10.html]

==[[August 9]], [[2003]]==

* A historic [[heat wave]] continues to afflict [[Europe]] and is expected to continue for another week. [[Spain]] and [[Portugal]] are particularly hard hit; [[forest fire]]s in Portugal are declared a national disaster, with damages estimated at &euro;1 billion. Other fires are reported on [[Majorca]] and in the [[Canary Islands]]. Temperatures of 49&deg;C are recorded in [[Andalusia]]. [[London]] records its highest temperature in history. The cause of the heat wave is believed to be a stagnant air mass over the [[Sahara]] sending hot air as far north as [[Sweden]]. [http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/08/09/euro_heat030809]

* [[U.S.-led occupation of Iraq|Occupation of Iraq]]: United States Central Command military officials confirm that Mahmoud Diyab al-Ahmed, the Iraqi Minister of Interior was in its custody. He occupies the number 29 position on the [[U.S. list of most wanted Iraqis]]. The Iraqi Minister of Interior surrendered to coalition forces yesterday. He was the ''seven of spades'' on the [[Most wanted Iraqi playing cards|deck of cards]] distributed to U.S. troops. [http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3250184] [http://www.sabcnews.com/world/north_america/0,1009,63678,00.html] [http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=1F538256-D067-4BCD-875A3A32D37AD90C]

* [[SCO v. IBM Linux lawsuit]]: Aduva, Inc., a Linux developing company, releases this week a tool to allow companies to replace any offending Linux code, if it exists, with code that does not infringe on SCO's intellectual property rights. [http://www.internetwk.com/breakingNews/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=13000487] [http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=13000458] [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=74&ncid=74&e=1&u=/cmp/20030809/tc_cmp/13000487] It is unknown how this tool will work, as SCO has not disclosed which code it considers infringing.

* The city of [[Vyborg]] commence the 600-years anniversary of King [[Eric of Pomerania]] establishing the town's trading privileges in a [[Royal Charter]].[http://www.helsinki-hs.net/news.asp?id=20030812IE18]

==[[August 8]], [[2003]]==

* [[Hezbollah]], a militant Lebanese group backed by [[Syria]] and [[Iran]], fires artillery toward [[Israel]]i border posts, drawing return fire. It was the first such exchange in eight months. [http://www.washtimes.com/world/20030810-115910-5380r.htm AP story]]

* A ''Ma'ariv'' [[opinion poll]] shows 37% of his supporters think [[Israel]]i [[Prime Minister]] [[Ariel Sharon]] is involved in corruption, with 52% saving he will have to resign if he behaved illegally. The controversy is over a $1.5 million loan given in January 2002 to Sharon's son, Gilad that was the loan originated from Cyril Kern, a friend of Ariel Sharon. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-574-772876,00.html]

* [[2003 occupation of Iraq|''Occupation of Iraq'']]: At his ranch in [[Crawford, Texas]], [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] noted the 100th day since overt military action in [[Iraq]] ended, saying that the [[United States]] has made "good progress" in helping [[Iraq]]'s [[Democracy|democratic process]]es, overall [[National security|security]], and [[economy]]. [http://www.baynews9.com/NewsStory.cfm?storyid=22611] [http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=62529837-672D-4A73-9E33A1B5F2DF037F] [http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Aug2003/n08082003_200308083.html]

*[[US v. EU on GM food]]: The [[European Union]] expresses their disapproval over the [[United States|American]], [[Canada|Canadian]] and [[Argentina|Argentinian]] effort to launch a [[World Trade Organization]] formal challenge against its decision to keep the policy of banning genetically modified crops. [http://www.eubusiness.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=116324] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3135763.stm] [http://www.just-food.com/news_detail.asp?art=55012]

*[[SCO v. IBM Linux lawsuit]]: [[IBM]] furnishes more information on their [[SCO]] countersuit and states that they have [[Novell]] support. [http://www.vnunet.com/News/1142898] [http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/22052.html] [http://www.forbes.com/technology/newswire/2003/08/07/rtr1052693.html]

* [[War on Terrorism]]: According to the latest disclosed analysis of the [[Black box recorder|cockpit recording]]s by the [[United States]] investigators, the [[September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack|September 11th]] terrorist-pilot [[Ziad Jarrah]] got instructions to crash the [[United Airlines flight 93]] into the [[Pennsylvania]] farmland because of the passenger uprising in the cabin trying to seize the plane's controls. [http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/6485636.htm] [http://wcco.com/topstories/topstories_story_219230706.html] [http://www.rediff.com/us/2003/aug/08attack.htm] [http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-attack08.html]

* [[Michael Johnston]], a prominent "[[ex-gay]]" Christian, is said to have engaged in unprotected gay sex, despite his own opposition to homosexuality. [http://www.sovo.com/2003/8-8/news/national/exgay.cfm], [http://www.dallasvoice.com/articles/dispArticle.cfm?Article_ID=3297], [http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/bpnews.asp?ID=16452]

* It is reported that the [[Canada|Canadian]] Grand Prix is dropped from the [[2004]] [[Formula 1]] calendar as a result of its anti-[[tobacco]] [[law]]s. The [[Montreal]] race was given a grace of 7 [[year]]s before the introduction of the new law, announced in [[1997]]. This comes a week after it was announced that the [[Belgium|Belgian]] GP will be re-introduced in the 2004 [[season]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3133815.stm] However, Formula One director general Bernie Ecclestone says that no such decision has been made. [http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/08/08/tobacco_race030808]

* The draft [[EU]] [[constitution]] could lead to the establishment of foreign-owned private health care and educational services. [http://www.helsinki-hs.net/news.asp?id=20030808IE4]

==[[August 7]], [[2003]]==

* [[2003 California recall]]: [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] [[Darrell Issa]], the person behind the effort of [[recall election]] of [[Gray Davis]], quickly and without warning dropped out of the [[Election|gubernatorial race]]. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3001875,00.html] [http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20030807_1994.html]

* Convicted [[terrorist]], [[Real IRA]] leader [[Michael McKevitt]], found guilty yesterday by the [[Republic of Ireland]]'s [[Special Criminal Court]] of "membership of an illegal organisation" and "directing terrorism", is sentenced to twenty years in prison. [http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-12712116,00.html]

* An [[Indonesia]]n [[court]] sentences [[Amrozi bin Nurhasyim]] to [[capital punishment|death]] for his role in the [[2002 Bali terrorist bombing]]. The court found Amrozi guilty of planning and carrying out the attack. The verdict comes two [[day]]s after another attack outside Marriott Hotel in [[Jakarta]]. [[Jemaah Islamiyah]] is linked with both of the attacks. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030807/ap_on_re_as/indonesia_bali_trial&cid=516&ncid=716]

* [[U.S.-led occupation of Iraq|Occupation of Iraq]]: A [[car bomb]] [[explosion|explodes]] near the [[Jordan]]ian [[Embassy]] in [[Baghdad]], [[Iraq]]. At least 10 people are killed and more than 30 are injured. The bomb, hidden in a [[bus|minibus]], is believed to be detonated remotely. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030807/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_jordan_attack&cid=540&ncid=716]

* [[Politics of Liberia|Liberian crisis]]: [[President]] [[Charles Taylor]] resigns as [[Nigeria]]n [[peace]]keepers entered [[Liberia]]. Taylor names his vice president, [[Moses Blah]], as his successor. Peacekeepers intercepted an [[weapon|arms]] shipment to Liberia from [[Libya]]. Taylor, who is indicted for [[war crimes]], indicates that he will seek [[asylum]] in [[Nigeria]]. [http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/08/07/cnna.taylor/]

==[[August 6]], [[2003]]==

*[[2003 California recall]]: [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] announces he will run for [[Governor of California]] in the [[recall election]] of [[Gray Davis]]. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-2997304,00.html] [http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/6473912.htm] [http://pennlive.com/newsflash/topstories/index.ssf?/base/politics-0/1060215575177610.xml]

* [[Florida]] is set to begin paying $1.6 million in fees to pilot/database guru and alleged former drug smuggler turned government informant [[Hank Asher]] in payment for his [[Matrix (law enforcement database)|Matrix]] system, a rapidly searchable [[database]] combining existing police records and several large commercially available computer databases. [[Civil liberties|Civil libertarians]] are outraged at the system, claiming it is [[Orwellian]] and reminiscent of the Federal [[Total Information Awareness]] program. The [[United States Department of Justice]] and [[Department of Homeland Security]] are providing funds to expand Matrix coverage to the entire country. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21872-2003Aug5.html] [http://www.cato.org/dispatch/08-06-03d.html] [http://www.local6.com/news/2384241/detail.html]

* An [[Italy|Italian]] laboratory announces the birth of the world's first [[cloning|cloned]] horse, [[Prometea]]. [http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=3232023]

* The [[United States]] [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]] establishes that a unit of military personnel has arrived in [[Liberia]], coordinating support for the [[West Africa]]n peacekeepers in the country. [http://www.kvoa.com/stories/8/862003_20.html] [http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/08/06/liberia030806]

* [[North Korea]] and [[Iran]] are planning to form an alliance to develop long-range ballistic missiles with [[Nuclear weapon|nuclear warheads]]. Under the plan, North Korea will transport missile parts to Iran for assembly at a plant near [[Tehran]], Iran. [http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000101&sid=ap7Cf_amQLwo&refer=japan] [http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=17342&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs] [http://www.capeargus.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=55&fArticleId=203051]

* [[Real IRA]] leader [[Michael McKevitt]] is convicted in the [[Republic of Ireland]]'s [[Special Criminal Court]] of two [[terrorism|terrorist]] offences, "directing terrorism" and "membership of an illegal organisation". One of the key witnesses was [[David Rupert]], an [[FBI]] agent who posed as a member of the Real IRA to get close to McKevitt. The three judges of the SCC will sentence McKevitt later. [http://www.rte.ie/news/2003/0806/mckevittm.html]

==[[August 5]], [[2003]]==

* A powerful [[car bomb]] [[explosion|explodes]] outside the Marriott Hotel[http://www.marriott.com/dpp/PropertyPage.asp?MarshaCode=AMMJR], killing at least fourteen people and injuring about 150 in [[downtown]] [[Jakarta]], a popular district for foreigners. It is believed to be a [[suicide bombing]]. The blast comes two [[day]]s before a [[Bali]] [[court]] was due to deliver the verdict of the first suspect of the [[2002 Bali terrorist bombing]] and four days after [[President]] [[Megawati Sukarnoputri]] vowed to wipe out [[terrorist]] networks in [[Indonesia]]. [[Jemaah Islamiyah]] claimed responsibility for the attack through a [[Singapore]] [[newspaper]]. [http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/topstories/story/0,4386,203327,00.html?][http://apnews.myway.com/article/20030806/D7SOB9NG0.html]

* A planned meeting between [[Israel]]i prime minister [[Ariel Sharon]] and [[Palestinian]] prime minister [[Mahmoud Abbas]] is cancelled by Abbas. He accuses Israel of not doing enough in a [[US]]-backed [[road map for peace]]. Israel had said that 540 Palestinian prisoners would be freed but only released 342 names in a prisoner list. Israel accuses the Palestinians of not curbing [[terrorist]] attacks on Israel. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=6&u=/ap/20030805/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians]

* A further twist to the British [[David Kelly]] scandal occurs, as [[Tony Blair]]'s official spokesman, [[Tom Kelly]], apologizes to David Kelly's family for having compared the late and still un-buried Dr. Kelly to a "[[The Secret Life of Walter Mitty|Walter Mitty]]" character in a "private" conversation with a journalist. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3124677.stm][http://politics.guardian.co.uk/kelly/story/0,13747,1012664,00.html]

* The father of two teenage French tennis players is arrested in [[France]] and accused of drugging their opponents to ensure his children win their games. The issue arose when a tennis player, having played against one of the man's daughters, was killed in a car crash having fallen asleep while driving. Tests showed he had been drugged some hours earlier. [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/05/1060064185046.html]

* [[2003 Nova Scotia election]]: the [[Progressive Conservative Party]] of Premier [[John Hamm]] is reelected with a minority government. They receive 25 seats, the [[New Democratic Party]] 15, and the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberals]] 12.

* [[The Episcopal Church]], the [[U.S.]] branch of the [[Anglican Communion]], approves its first openly [[gay]] [[bishop]] as the final vote was cast to confirm [[Gene Robinson]] as the [[Diocese]] of [[New Hampshire]]. Robinson was cleared of allegations of misconduct before the vote. The action incites protests, a declaration of a "pastoral emergency", and calls for intervention by the Anglican Communion chief bishops. [http://apnews.myway.com/article/20030806/D7SOAJ9G0.html] [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,93903,00.html] [http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=7281F6FF-B2B9-49B3-86EE432F76D63123]

==[[August 4]], [[2003]]==

* Construction workers of [[Qiqihar]], [[Heilongjiang Province]], [[People's Republic of China]] accidentally dig out five [[Japan]]ese [[mustard gas]] bombs from the [[Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945)]]. Two of the bombs are damaged, and the gas [[poison]]s 43 (one died 19 days later). Japan a week later accepts responsibility and sends doctors and compensation to China. [http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/east/08/17/china.bombs/]

* The clergy and lay people of the [[Episcopal Church]] in the [[United States]], by a comfortable margin, vote in favor of the appointment of an openly [[gay]] [[bishop]]. The vote is thought likely to get confirmation from the bishops' collegium, which however is delayed due to last minute independent allegations of misconduct and intense conservative opposition. [http://news.google.com/news?q=Gene-Robinson+&num=20&hl=en&safe=off&sa=G&scoring=d][http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3120171.stm]

* ''[[SCO v. IBM Linux lawsuit]]:'' ''Reuters'' have reported that [[Red Hat]] intends to start legal action against [[SCO]] to establish that SCO's claims against the Linux operating system are invalid.

==[[August 2]], [[2003]]==

* The ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'' in the [[United Kingdom]] claims attempts by the [[British Ministry of Defence]] (MoD) to destroy allegedly important documents about its treatment of BBC source Dr. [[David Kelly]] in the weeks before his suicide were foiled by a security guard, who found the documents scheduled for destruction and called the police. The MoD insists the documents were not that important but will now be preserved and supplied to the Hutton Inquiry into the Kelly case.

* The [[United Nations]] authorizes an international [[UN peacekeeping|peacekeeping]] force for [[Liberia]]. The [[United States]] is criticized by members of the [[Security Council]] for insisting that UN peacekeepers serving in Liberia be granted immunity from [[war crimes]] prosecution. The U.S. demand is described by its critics as a breach of international law.

* A huge [[condominium]] complex under construction in [[San Diego, California]] is [[arson|destroyed]], supposedly by the [[Earth Liberation Front]]. [http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20030802-9999_1n2condos.html]

* [[José Bové]], a radical [[France|French]] activist against [[genetically modified food]], is released from prison after serving only five weeks of a 10-month jail sentence.

* [[Israel]]i [[Attorney General]] [[Elyakim Rubinstein]] publicly rebukes [[Ariel Sharon]]'s son [[Gilad Sharon|Gilad]] for refusing to cooperate with an investigation into [[graft]] and influence peddling. [http://washingtontimes.com/world/20030801-093849-7781r.htm]

* Scientists announce that the [[ozone layer]] may be showing signs of recovery due to an international ban on [[chlorofluorocarbons]]. [http://news.independent.co.uk/world/environment/story.jsp?story=429802]

==[[August 1]], [[2003]]==

* A [[truck bomb]] destroys a military hospital in [[Mozdok]] in Southern [[Russia]], near [[Chechnya]], killing 41 and wounding at least 76. The Russian government blames the attack on [[Second Chechen War|Chechen separatists]]. A media spokesman for rebel political leader, [[Aslan Maskhadov]], denied any connection with the incident. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13500-2003Aug1.html]

* [[North Korea]] agrees to multilateral talks in its [[North Korea nuclear weapons program|nuclear standoff]] with [[Japan]], [[South Korea]], [[Russia]], The [[United States]], and the [[People's Republic of China]]. [http://www.iht.com/articles/104953.html]

* The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health plans to propose an amendment to [[Finland|Finnish]] [[tobacco]] legislation which would make retail sales of tobacco products subject to a licence. [http://www.helsinki-hs.net/news.asp?id=20030801IE4]