A series of four explosions occurs on London's transport system killing 56 people including four alleged suicide bombers and injuring over 700 others.

A scandal breaks out in the United Kingdom when news reports accuse MI6 of sheltering Abu Qatada, the supposed European Al Qaeda leader.

Yugoslav Wars: the Brioni Agreement ends the ten-day independence war in Slovenia against the rest of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Boris Becker becomes the youngest player ever to win Wimbledon at age 17

Cold War: Samantha Smith, a U.S. schoolgirl, flies to the Soviet Union at the invitation of Secretary General Yuri Andropov.

During the Lebanese civil war, 83 Tiger militants are killed during what will be known as the Safra massacre.

Institution of sharia in Iran.

The Solomon Islands become independent from the United Kingdom.

In Canada, the Official Languages Act is adopted making the French language equal to the English language throughout the Federal government.

Beginning of the civil war in Biafra.

14:28 UT Venus occults the star Regulus. This rare event is used to determine the diameter of Venus and the structure of the Venusian atmosphere.

U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs the Alaska Statehood Act into law.

Fritz Moravec reaches the peak of Gasherbrum II (8,035 m).

Elvis Presley made his radio debut when WHBQ Memphis played his first recording for Sun Records, "That's All Right."

Ernesto "Che" Guevara sets out on a trip through Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador.

Howard Hughes nearly dies when his XF-11 spy plane prototype crashes in a Beverly Hills neighborhood.

Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini becomes the first American to be canonized.

World War II: Beirut is occupied by Free France and British troops.

World War II: U.S. forces land in Iceland, taking over from an earlier British occupation.

Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945)|Sino-Japanese War: Battle of Lugou Bridge

Industrialist Henry J. Kaiser begins construction of the Boulder Dam (now known as Hoover Dam).

Sliced bread is sold for the first time by the Chillicothe Baking Company of Chillicothe, Missouri. It is described as “the greatest forward step in the baking industry since bread was wrapped".

Russian Revolution: Prince Georgy Yevgenyevich Lvov forms a provisional government in Russia after the deposing of Tsar Nicholas II.

An International Railway trolley with an extreme overload of 157 passengers crashes near Queenston, Ontario, killing 15.

World War I: end of First Battle of the Isonzo.

U.S. President William McKinley signs the Newlands Resolution annexing Hawaii as a territory of the United States.

Katipunan: the Revolutionary Philippine Brotherhood is established, contributing to the fall of the Spanish Empire in Asia.

American Civil War: four conspirators in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln are hanged.

United States begins its first military draft; exemptions cost $300.

Mexican-American War: American troops occupy Monterey and Yerba Buena, thus beginning the U.S. conquest of California.

Napoleonic Wars: the Peace of Tilsit between France, Prussia and Russia ends the Fourth Coalition.

Quasi-War: the U.S. Congress rescinds treaties with France sparking the "war".

American Revolutionary War: Battle of Hubbardton.

The Battle of Larga between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire takes place.

The Treaty of Nemours abolishes tolerance to Protestants in France.

Raid of the Redeswire, the last major battle between England and Scotland.

French troops invade Luxembourg.

European colonization of the Americas: first known exchange between Europeans and natives of the Gulf of St. Lawrence in New Brunswick.

A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death.