Portal:Current events/2003 January 18

January 18, 2003 (Saturday)

A mass mobilization pulls together global protests against the Iraq war in cities around the world, including Tokyo, Moscow, Paris, London, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Cologne, Bonn, Gothenburg, Istanbul and Cairo. NION and ANSWER hold protests in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, California.
The Swiss yacht Allinghi, captained by New Zealand skipper Russell Coutts, defeated Oracle, a San Francisco, California-based yacht, to win the challenger final of the America's Cup. Allinghi will now face the New Zealand defender, yet to be determined.
In Australia, the most devastating bushfire since the Ash Wednesday fires in 1983 hits Canberra and the Australian Capital Territory. Four people are to die, 520 homes and thousands of hectares of national park will be destroyed, 259 people will be admitted to The Canberra Hospital with burns and A$250 million will be paid by insurance companies.
The Sengkang LRT line began operations, with 5 stations along the East Loop being opened at the same time operated by SBS Transit Ltd using Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Crystal Mover C810s.