December 31, 2003

• In Taiwan, President Chen Shui-bian signs a law that allows referendums to be held. The People's Republic of China condemns this. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3358655.stm
• Occupation of Iraq: A car bomb detonates outside an upmarket Baghdad restaurant much favoured by foreign journalists, killing five New Year revellers. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3359687.stm
• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences mails nomination ballots in which it qualifies 254 films released in 2003 as eligible for Oscar consideration. http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=4059933