On this day
Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.
In 2003, the world population was approximately 6,420,361,634 people[†]
2003David Hemmings, English actor (born 1941)[†]
David Leslie Edward Hemmings was an English actor, director, and producer of film and television. Originally trained as a boy soprano in operatic roles, he began appearing in films as a child actor in the 1950s. He became an icon of Swinging London for his portrayal of a trendy fashion photographer in the critically acclaimed film Blowup (1966), directed by Michelangelo Antonioni.
2003Sita Ram Goel, Indian historian, publisher and writer (born 1921)[†]
Sita Ram Goel was an Indian Hindu nationalist writer, and publisher known for his literature pertaining to Hinduism and Hindu nationalism in the late twentieth century. His work has been both celebrated and criticized for its alignment with Hindu nationalism.
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Profile of and interview with British novelist Jim Crace, whose latest book is Genesis; Crace, who describes his books as deeply moral and himself as perpetual outsider who is 'widely regarded as somebody who can't be English,' comments on his writing style and upcoming project; photo (M)
Fine chocolates seem poised to become object of connoisseurship; at least a dozen new boutique chocolatiers have opened in New York since 2000, offering chocolate bars adn bonbons that are carefully created for flavor without regard for shelf stability or even popular appeal; list of best chocolate sources; photos (M)
Dan Barry About New York column discusses troubles of New York Sports Museum and Hall of Fame, which has struggled to raise funds since its inception 15 years ago; it is now fighting to force proposed National Sports Museum, for-profit company, to change its name to something less suggestive of nonprofit organization (M)
Letter From Asia reports China is building better relations with Asian neighbors, capitalizing on US preoccupation with terrorism to greatly expand influence in region; photos; new affinity is promoted by two-way tourism at time when terrorism warnings keep Americans away; China is also on buying spree in Southeast Asian countries where significant Muslim populations make US concentration on terrorism particularly unappealing (M)
Move to Revive Merger of Russian Oil Coï
Arab attacks on Jews in France and incidents like burning of Jewish school in Gagny intensify debate over definition and extent of anti-Semitism in France and Europe, and force French government to redouble efforts to combat it; photos; French Jews, particularly those of North African origin, say Israeli-Palestinian conflict and US occupation of Iraq have morphed into battleground for Muslims and others in Europe who make no distinction between Israel's political policies and Judaism; France has 600,000 Jewish citizens, largest population outside Israel and US, but perhaps ten times that number of Arab Muslims; unemployed Arab youths who wander streets and carry out attacks have no understanding of Holocaust or Europe's long and continuing history of anti-Semitism, as seen in recent European Union poll and assaults on Jews in several countries (M)
Vivendi Universal reports net profit in third quarter and deal for new 2.7 billion euros loan ($3.3 billion) loan that could lift its debt rating out of junk status; earned 131 million euros ($158 million) in quarter compared with loss of 1.23 billion euros year ago; company's chief executive Jean-Rene Fourtou has made it priority to cut company's debt; photo (M)0
Empire State Development Coporation proposes $100 million redevelopment of landmark Empire Stores warehouse on Brooklyn (NYC) waterfront that will feature stores, restaurants and galleries; photos (M)
Clothing retailers are looking to teenagers for sign of how strong holiday season will be; NDP Group research analyst Marshal Cohen says teenagers once lived for clothes, but that is not case anymore; adds teenagers are more into other products like cellphones, digital cameras, video games and music; spending on clothing for teenagers has dropped in last two years, to 12 percent of total $175 billion clothing market, from 14.5 percent in 2001; decline represents $3.5 billion in clothing sales; photo (M)
American real estate investment firm Colony Capital agrees to buy Fukuoka Dome, home of Japan's current baseball champions Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, as well as nearby Sea Hawk Hotel and Resort from Daiei Inc; Daiei's sale is part of company's efforts to raise cash to keep its supermarket chain going; Daiei will maintain control of baseball team; photos (M)
Bank of Canada leaves its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.75 percent, citing expectations that exceptional growth of American economy will soon translate into higher Canadian exports and robust domestic growth (S)c
Jamie Oliver, English celebrity chef, describes making panna cotta; recipe; photos (The Chef column ) (M)