大象传媒

Rewind to the year 2003, a momentous year of news and events.

March sees a coalition led by the US and Britain launch Operation Iraqi Freedom, leading the Iraqi capital of Baghdad to fall after just 20 days.

Later in the year, a 大象传媒 report questions a government dossier on Iraq鈥檚 weapons programme that led to the war. The 大象传媒 source is revealed by the media to be government weapons expert Dr David Kelly. However, Dr Kelly denies that he is responsible for the leak and, two days after his testimony, he is found dead after apparently taking his own life, leading an enquiry to be launched.

In the art world, Leonardo Da Vinci鈥檚 Madonna of the Yardwinder - valued at 拢30 million - is stolen from Drumlanrig Castle. And
Celtic musician Martyn Bennet releases his groundbreaking album Grit, which combines traditional Scot Celtic folk music with electronic drum beats. Meanwhile, in sport, up to 80,000 Celtic supporters travel to Spain to cheer on their side as they face Porto in the Uefa Cup final.

Tragedy strikes Space Shuttle Columbia as it breaks up shortly before re-entry to Earth鈥檚 atmosphere, causing the loss of all seven crew members. And an outbreak of a deadly lung disease spreads from animals to humans in South China - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) reaches 29 countries, killing 774.

And in politics Iain Duncan Smith loses a challenge to his leadership of the Conservative Party, while there is a surprise winner in Pop Idol as Ballieston鈥檚 Michelle McManus wins the second series of the singing competition.