July 5, 2003

=July 5, 2003=

*At least 16 people are killed and 40 injured by two female suicide bombers in an attack at Krylya, a popular music festival, at the Tushino airfield near Moscow. The Russian authorities blame an on-going terrorism campaign by Chechen rebels; the Chechen government denies any connection to the attacks. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3047386.stm]
*2003 occupation of Iraq: 7 newly US-trained Iraqi policemen are killed and at least 13 are wounded by an explosion while they are marching from training school in Ramadi. The American forces overseeing the rebuilding of Iraq's infrastructure, who gave their blessing to the march taking place, blames loyalists to Saddam Hussein; some people on the scene blame U.S. forces. It is the first attack on Iraqis collaborating with the invading coalition forces, as opposed to on the forces themselves. [http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/07/05/sprj.irq.main/index.html]
*In response to 500,000-strong protests earlier in the week, Tung Chee-hwa, leader of Hong Kong, announces that controversial provisions that are alleged capable of limiting civil liberties in Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23 will be rewritten. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3046894.stm]
*Taiwan is the last territory to be declared free of SARS by the World Health Organization, after 20 days with no new cases reported. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3046984.stm]
*Premier John Hamm of Nova Scotia, Canada, calls a provincial election for August 5.
* The 2003 Tour de France begins in Paris.
*Wimbledon championships: Serena Williams repeats as women's champion by beating her sister Venus, by scores of 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.