Events in February 2003
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Feb 1
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The space shuttle Columbia disintegrates over the State of Texas in US, minutes before its scheduled landing in Florida, killing all seven astronauts -- six Americans, including Indian-American Kalpana Chawla, and an Israeli Air Force officer. |
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Feb 3
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NASA says there will be a "hold'' on future shuttle flights due to the Columbia disaster, though this will be temporary. |
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Feb 4
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Preliminary evidence in the Columbia disaster points to temperature shootup on the left side of the space shuttle and greater wind resistance on the craft which could have forced the Commander to rapidly change course prior to break-up. |
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Showing resistance, Iraq reiterates it cannot guarantee the safety of the U-2 surveillance planes that the United Nations weapons inspectors intend using. |
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Feb 5
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US earmarks $53.35 million for India, which is almost one-sixth of what it has allocated for Pakistan in its 2004 budget. |
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Israel and US test Patriot missiles on Israeli soil as part of a final phase of preparations for a war against Iraq. |
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Feb 6
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Tension along India-Bangladesh border mounts over allged push-in and push-back of Bengali-speaking Muslims. |
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US makes out strong case for war against Iraq in the UN Security Council. |
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In a rare TV interview, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein strongly denies links with Al-Qaeda and accused Britain and America of looking for a "pretext" for a war in order to gain control over Iraqi oil. |
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Feb 7
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Chief UN weapons inspector, Hans Blix, distances himself from US claims that Iraq clearly possessed weapons of mass destruction. |
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India, US sign agreement for cooperation in high technology areas. |
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Pakistan joins a coalition planning group which advises the US Central Command on the planned war against terrorism. |
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Feb 8
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US President, George W. Bush, says "the game is over'' for Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, and makes an appeal to the UN. |
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Pakistan lodges a `strong protest' with India over charges that Pakistan Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi, Jalil Abbas Jilani, provided money to representatives of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC). |
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Iraq allows private interviews of its scientists as sought by the U.N. Security Council. |
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Sri Lanka and the LTTE began their fifth round of talks in Berlin. |
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Feb 9
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Blast at a Pakistan nuclear facility near Islamabad kills one man. |
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Russian President, Vladimir Putin, left on a tour of Germany and France in a last-minute effort to avert a US. war against Iraq. |
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Anti-war rallies surface in Indonesia and Malaysia against a possible US-led war against Iraq. |
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Feb 10
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Iraq agrees in unconditional terms to use of American U-2 surveillance planes and pledges legislation to outlaw the use of weapons of mass destruction. |
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United Kingdom says it is not for a Franco-German plan to avert war in Iraq. |
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Feb 11
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"Chicago", the musical adapted from the stage-hit about two murderous women competing for tabloid celebrity, leads Academy Award contenders. |
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Three Indians are among 14 pilgrims killed during a stampede near Mecca, nearly two kilometres away from the site where the "Stoning of Satan" ritual is performed. |
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Sikh activist, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 1985 bombing of an Air India flight, Kanishka, sentenced to five years in prison. |
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Feb 13
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United Nations experts find an Iraqi missile has exceeded the maximum range allowed under the U.N. resolutions. |
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A tape claims that Osama bin Laden has predicted his own death in a message, purported to be in his voice. |
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Key Arab countries, with the possible exception of Syria, appear to be falling in line behind the United States. |
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Feb 14
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Top UN Weapons Inspector, Hans Blix, tells Security Council that inspections had not found any weapons of mass destruction. |
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Iraq President, Saddam Hussein, issues decree banning the import and production of weapons of mass destruction. |
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India and Russia sign contract for supply of nuclear fuel for the Koodankulam atomic power plant in Tamil Nadu. |
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Feb 15
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Anti-war protests draw hundreds of thousands of people in cities around the world from London to Canberra. |
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Feb 16
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Thousands of people all over America protest against the Bush administration's war preparations against Iraq. |
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Feb 17
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Massive peace protest in London puts pressure on Blair Government over Iraq. |
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Feb 18
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Over 130 people killed in arson on a subway train in the South Korean city of Daegu. |
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Feb 19
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Force should be the last resort in the standoff against Iraq, India tells United Nations Security Council. |
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Events 2003
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
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