24 January 2003: Jack Lyton has been elected the leader of the National Democratic Party of Canada.
5 February 2003: Serbia has officially been sanctioned by the UN after failing to hand over Slobidjan Milosevic to the Hague for a trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Democracy is believed to be breaking down in the country as Serbia is beginning to become more of an authoritarian state.
8 March 2003: Russia Agrees to join the European Union overwhelmingly as does Malta.
20 March 2003: A massive scandal has engulfed Italy as corruption allegations are levelled against Silviio Beluschoni for being in the pocket of some of the biggest crime families in the country (namely the Camorra), with some suggesting that he may be a ranking member of the organisation as well as other members of parliament, after an anonymous tip was given to an opposition member, the police and a media organisation.
23 March 2003: Slovenia votes to join the EU.
22 March 2003: The Australian Democrats have come into power in NSW after a scandal in the Bob Carr ministry as well as several gaffs and mishaps in projects in and around sydney have led to Labor losing a lot of popularity. The Coalition have been reduced to third party status, only winning 26% of the vote in total (a split of 34 to the Democrats, 32 to Labor and 26% to the Coalition), with the Coalition having preferenced the Democrats.
1 April 2003: The UN, by a vote of 125-63 has recognised Kosovo as an independent nation.
5 April 2003: Now RAI tv in Italy were able to obtain footage of Beluschoni meeting with a well known member that many believe to be an intermediary to the Camorra. Criminal investigations have begun immediately into the conservative faction, the government have called for a crackdown on mafia activities across the country.
10 April 2003: A supposed spokesperson acting on behalf of several mafia families (including the Sicilian Mafia, Camorras and Ndrangheta) have said that they would call a truce, calling for all members involved to rise up and hunt down government members and agents and show them the force in an unprecedented action. It is suspected that they had bribed and threatened several TV workers to get them to air the message on RAI tv (supposedly sending a message to the network to not report on the crime families).
12 April 2003: Hungary votes to join the EU. As does Turkey overwhelmingly.
13 April 2003: In a surprise result, Keiko Higuchi, who was endorsed by the ruling Democratic Party as well as the Liberal Party, has won the Tokyo Gubernatorial Election, beating out the ruling governor Shintaro Ishihara, who was publicly endorsed by the LDP. Ishihara made many gaffs and controversial statements (particularly around foreigners). These made Higuchi, who was riding on the popularity of the Democratic Party at a national level, to an election victory.
14 April 2003: Giles Ducepe has been elected the first Prime Minister of Quebec, with Parti Quebecois winning 72 seats out of 125. the Right wing Action Democratique won 40 seats, with the UFP winning 8 seats as the Liberals stated they wouldn't run in Quebec (neither would Alliance).
27 April 2003: Economist Ricardo Lopes Murphy has emerged the winner of the Argentinian election.
10 May 2003: At least 25 Italian politicians have been killed since the call from a collective mafia family spokesperson to hunt down Italian members and senators.
12 May 2003: A coup against the Saudi Royal family is held, with Al Qaeda Leader Osama Bin Laden having orchestrated and planned the coup, with the direct line all killed. Osama himself has declared himself as King of the country. It is believed that he does have a degree of support amongst a certain population (especially amongst the more ultra conservative muslims who support the idea of waging Jihad against the West).
24 May 2003: In their debut year in the competition, Moldova win Eurovision, with their entrant from the Band O-Zone and their song Dragostea Din Tei. Prime minister Vasile Tarlev (who was actually in attendance in Bologna) declared a national holiday for the next day to celebrate the occasion and welcome back the band. France where the runners up, sending Alizee and her entrant 'J'en Ai Marre', Turkey coming third with Switzerland and Celine Dion and her song 'I Drove all Night' followed by 'The Rasmus' and 'In the Shadows' from Finland (beginning a string of metal entrants from Finland, including there win in 2006, and two top 5 finishes in the following years with hard rock and metal entrants). The competition was spared of any violence or protests (with Bologna chosen for that very reason, to avoid any of the issues occurring in Naples, Rome, Milan and Sicily).
25 May 2003: Half a million people line the streets of Chisinau, Moldova to welcome back eurovision winners O-Zone, who then held an impromptu concert in the middle of the city.
28 May 2003: Manchester United have won the Champions League, defeating Milan 4-2 after a hattrick from Balon D'Or winner Ronaldo at their home ground of Old Trafford. Celebrations ran long into the night in Manchester as the club recorded their Third Champions League title (completing a complete sweep for the club).
14 June 2003: the Czech Republic overwhelmingly vote to enter the EU 68-32.
15 July 2003: Italian Prime Minister Gianfranco Fini has been assassinated in the official Prime Ministerial residence, an attack believed to be orchestrated by the Sicilian Mafia.
11 August 2003: Charles Taylor is murdered as he tries to escape Liberia, bringing an end to the 4 year civil war. the United States has said that they would be willing to begin its largest foreign aid and investment campaign ever, to help develop the country and help its infrastructure and education system along with training police and military. the UN has agreed to oversee the writing of a new constitution for the country along with the establishment of a new electoral commision and fresh democratic elections held.
27 August 2003: There is an agreement for denuclearisation of the North Korea in exchange for the lifting of sanctions and normalising of relations. In addition, North Korea will also be forced to loosen its more authoritarian practices, with it easing its way to becoming a more traditional communist state. Its been heralded as a good compromise and arrangement to ensure the safety of those in Asia. The countries involved in negotiations included Japan, South Korea, East China, West China, Russia and the United States along with North Korea itself.
14 September 2003: Estonia votes to join the European Union, as does Latvia.
2 October 2003: Howard Hampton and the NDP have won the Ontario Election, due to the unpopularity of the Liberals and an unpopular Alliance government.
6 November 2003: David Davies has won the leadership of the Conservative Party in the UK.
7 December 2003: With no surprises, Yabloko was able to win 240 out of the 450 seats in the legislative. The Communist Party where the runners up on 120 seats with the Social Democrats winning 80 seats.