Portal:Current events/2003 October 29
October 29, 2003 (Wednesday)
- The US FDA approves Risperdal Consta (Risperidone long-acting injection) for the treatment of schizophrenia. Although already approved in several other countries, it is the first long-acting, atypical antipsychotic medication to be approved by the FDA.
- British Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith loses a vote of confidence in his parliamentary party by 90 votes to 75 and, in accordance with party rules, resigns from the leadership. A new leadership election is called. Shadow Deputy Prime Minister David Davis, previously tipped as a future leader, surprises Westminster by announcing that he will not seek the leadership and endorses former Home Secretary Michael Howard, who is now seen as the frontrunner to assume the leadership. Other leading politicians endorse Howard, once famously described by a colleague as having "something of the night about him."[1][2]
- Occupation of Iraq: The International Red Cross announces that it is to scale back its commitments to Iraq.[3] Two more GIs are killed, bringing the total killed since May 1 to 115.[4]
- Halloween Solar Storms. The Earth's magnetosphere is hit by the recent solar flare causing a brief but intense geomagnetic storm, provoking unusual displays of Northern Lights.[5]
- ^ "World News". Archived from the original on 28 May 2005. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- ^ http://interestalert.com/brand/siteia.shtml?Story=st/sn/10290004aaa01957.upi&Sys=siteia&Fid=LATEBRKN&Type=News&Filter=Late%20Breaking
- ^ "BBC NEWS - Middle East - Red Cross to cut Iraq staff". Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- ^ [1] Archived August 15, 2004, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Few Flare-Ups From Solar Debris". 23 October 2003. Retrieved 22 December 2015.