- 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.

- In Louisiana, conservative Democrat Kathleen Blanco defeats Republican Bobby Jindal to become the first woman governor elected from that state. Jindal is the son of immigrants from India.

- One hundred thousand people of various organisations demonstrate in Paris on occasion of the last day of the European Social Forum

- 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.

- 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 17 dead and 5 injured.

- One U.S. soldier is killed and 2 are injured in a roadside blast in northern Baghdad.
- 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.
Opinion polls suggest that 60% of the British people think President Bush is a threat to world peace.
- Police in Hebei province, People's Republic of China, arrest a suspected serial killer alleged to have killed at least 65 people.

- 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.

- 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.
