Twenty people are killed in Handlová, Trenčín Region, in the deadliest mining disaster in Slovakia's history.

Scotland Yard disrupts a major terrorist plot to destroy aircraft traveling from the United Kingdom to the United States.

Yuri Malenchenko becomes the first person to marry in space.

The highest temperature ever recorded in the United Kingdom

HRH Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah is proclaimed the crown prince of Brunei with a Royal Proclamation.

Oklahoma City bombing: Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols are indicted for the bombing. Michael Fortier pleads guilty in a plea-bargain for his testimony.

An earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter Scale hits the South Island of New Zealand.

More than 127 Muslims are killed in North East Sri Lanka by paramilitary troops.

The Magellan space probe reaches Venus.

Japanese American internment: U.S. President Ronald Reagan signs the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, providing $20,000 payments to Japanese Americans who were either interned in or relocated by the United States during World War II.

Murder of Adam Walsh: the head of John Walsh's son is found. This inspires the creation of the television series ''America's Most Wanted''.

Three members of the Ulrich family are killed in an accident. This leads to the Ford Pinto litigation.

In Yonkers, New York, 24-year-old postal employee David Berkowitz ("Son of Sam") is arrested for a series of killings in the New York City area over the period of one year.

The Society for American Baseball Research is founded in Cooperstown, New York.

A day after murdering Sharon Tate and four others, members of Charles Manson's cult kill Leno and Rosemary LaBianca.

At Massena, New York, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Saint Lawrence Seaway is held.

U.S. President Harry S. Truman signs the National Security Act Amendment, streamlining the defense agencies of the United States government, and replacing the Department of War with the United States Department of Defense.

''Candid Camera'' makes its television debut after being on radio for a year as ''Candid Microphone''.

World War II: American forces defeat the last Japanese troops on Guam.

A {{convert|5.1|kg|lb}} chondrite-type meteorite breaks into at least seven pieces and lands near the town of Archie in Cass County, Missouri.

World War I: Ottoman sultan Mehmed VI's representatives sign the Treaty of Sèvres that divides up the Ottoman Empire between the Allies.

Second Balkan War: delegates from Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, and Greece sign the Treaty of Bucharest, ending the war.

Russo-Japanese War: peace negotiations begin in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Russo-Japanese War: the Battle of the Yellow Sea between the Russian and Japanese battleship fleets takes place.

The U.S. Steel Recognition Strike by the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers begins.

American Civil War: Battle of Wilson's Creek

The Smithsonian Institution is chartered by the United States Congress after James Smithson donates $500,000.

Missouri is admitted as the 24th U.S. state.

Instituto Nacional, is founded by the Chilean patriot José Miguel Carrera. It is Chile's oldest and most prestigious school. Its motto is ''Labor Omnia Vincit'', which means "Work conquers all things".

Quito, now the capital of Ecuador, declares independence from Spain. This rebellion will be crushed on August 2, 1810.

French Revolution: 10 August (French Revolution)|Storming of the Tuileries Palace

American Revolutionary War: word of the United States Declaration of Independence reaches London.

The Pueblo Revolt begins in New Mexico.

The foundation stone of the Royal Greenwich Observatory in London is laid.

The Swedish warship {{ship||Vasa|ship|6}} sinks in the Stockholm harbour after only about 20 minutes of her maiden voyage.

Battle of St. Quentin: Spanish victory over the French in the Habsburg-Valois Wars.

Ferdinand Magellan's five ships set sail from Seville to circumnavigate the globe. The Basque second in command Sebastian Elcano will complete the expedition after Magellan's death in the Philippines.

The Second Battle of Athenry takes place near Athenry during the Bruce campaign in Ireland.

Yekuno Amlak takes the imperial throne of Ethiopia, restoring the Solomonic dynasty to power after a 100-year Zagwe interregnum.

Battle of Maldon: the English, led by Byrhtnoth, Ealdorman of Essex, are defeated by a band of inland-raiding Vikings near Maldon in Essex.

Battle of Lechfeld: Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor defeats the Magyars, ending 50 years of Magyar invasion of the West.

Laylat al-Qadr: Muhammad begins to receive the Qur'an (traditional date).