1. American Invasion of Iraq: On March 20, 2003, the U.S.-led coalition forces invaded Iraq, alleging the presence of weapons of mass destruction. It marked the beginning of the Iraq War, which would have profound geopolitical and humanitarian consequences for years to come.
2. Columbia Space Shuttle Disaster: On February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during its re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in the tragic loss of all seven crew members on board. The investigation revealed the failure of a foam insulation panel as the cause of the accident.
3. SARS Outbreak: The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak began in China in November 2002 and spread to several countries around the world in 2003. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a global health emergency, leading to extensive quarantine measures and travel restrictions to contain its spread.
4. Madrid Train Bombings: On March 11, 2003, a series of coordinated terrorist attacks using bombs on commuter trains in Madrid, Spain, resulted in 191 deaths and over 1,800 injuries. The attacks were linked to an Al-Qaeda-inspired group and triggered international condemnation.
5. Fall of Baghdad: On April 9, 2003, U.S. forces entered Baghdad, marking a major turning point in the Iraq War. The statue of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was famously pulled down by American troops, symbolizing the end of his regime.
6. Good Friday Agreement Implementation: The Northern Ireland peace process, facilitated by the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, progressed in 2003 with the full transfer of policing powers to the Northern Irish Assembly and the decommissioning of weapons by paramilitary groups.
7. Discovery of Water on Mars: NASA announced the discovery of evidence suggesting the past presence of liquid water on Mars in the form of ancient riverbeds and mineral formations. This finding further fueled the possibility of past or even current habitable conditions on the Red Planet.
8. Human Genome Project Completion: In 2003, the Human Genome Project was declared complete, marking a significant milestone in the understanding of human genetics. The project had the monumental goal of mapping and sequencing the entire human DNA.
These are some of the major world events that took place during the year 2003. They impacted various aspects of politics, science, security, and global health.