November 15, 2003

• 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 governor elected from that state. 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 17 dead and 5 injured. [6] [7] [8] [9]
  • One U.S. soldier is killed and 2 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]