November 15, 2003 (Saturday)
- Two car bombs explode outside synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey, at about 0700 UTC (1000 local time), killing at least 20 people and injuring another 250. A radical Islamist group, the Great Eastern Islamic Raiders' Front, claims responsibility.[1]
- In Louisiana, conservative Democrat Kathleen Blanco defeats Republican Bobby Jindal to become the first woman in that state to be elected governor. Jindal is the son of immigrants from India.[2]
- One hundred thousand people of various organisations demonstrate in Paris on occasion of the last day of the European Social Forum.[3]
- Occupation of Iraq:
- Iraq's Governing Council announces that sovereignty is to be restored to Iraq in June 2004, with full elections to be held in 2005.[4][5]
- Two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters crash near Mosul in northern Iraq. Reports suggest one helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade and it then collided with the other helicopter. Latest reports suggest seventeen dead and five injured.[6][7][8][9]
- One U.S. soldier is killed and two are injured in a roadside blast in northern Baghdad.[10]
- Former United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Robin Cook expresses puzzlement as to why George W. Bush should have been invited for a state visit to the UK.[11] Opinion polls suggest that 60% of the British people think President Bush is a threat to world peace.[12]
- Police in Hebei province, People's Republic of China, arrest a suspected serial killer alleged to have killed at least 65 people.[13]
- In Saint-Nazaire, France, 15 people, including 2 children, die and 32 are injured or missing when a gangway falls off the Queen Mary 2 cruise ship, which has just finished construction.[14][15]
- 2003 Rugby Union World Cup: In the semi-finals Australia defeats New Zealand by 22 points to 10 to win a place in next weekend's final.[16]
- ^ "BBC NEWS - Europe - Turkey blasts 'threat to peace'". Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- ^ "FoxNews.com - Breaking News - Latest News - Current News". Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-01-03. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2005-06-30. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "BBC NEWS - Middle East - Timetable set for Iraq transfer". Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2005-06-30. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "CNN.com - Black Hawks crash death toll rises to 17 - Nov. 16, 2003". Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2004-08-10. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "BBC NEWS - Middle East - US helicopters crash over N Iraq". Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- ^ http://interestalert.com/brand/siteia.shtml?Story=st/sn/11150000aaa02f3f.upi&Sys=siteia&Fid=LATEBRKN&Type=News&Filter=Late%20Breaking
- ^ "BBC NEWS - UK - Cook attacks state visit for Bush". Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- ^ "World News". Archived from the original on 8 December 2004. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- ^ "BBC NEWS - Asia-Pacific - Chinese 'serial killer' arrested". Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- ^ "BBC NEWS - Europe - Inquiry into cruise liner deaths". Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- ^ http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20031115101109990001
- ^ "BBC SPORT - Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup - Australia shock New Zealand". Retrieved 22 December 2015.