2007 United States Air Force nuclear weapons incident: six US cruise missiles armed with nuclear warheads are flown without proper authorization from Minot Air Force Base to Barksdale Air Force Base.

Hurricane Katrina devastates much of the U.S. Gulf Coast from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, killing more than 1,836 and causing over $80 billion in damage.

Ayatollah Sayed Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim, the Shia Muslim leader in Iraq, is assassinated in a terrorist bombing, along with nearly 100 worshippers as they leave a mosque in Najaf.

At least 98 villagers are killed by the Armed Islamic Group of Algeria GIA in the Rais massacre, Algeria.

Vnukovo Airlines Flight 2801, a Vnukovo Airlines Tupolev Tu-154, crashes into a mountain on the Arctic island of Spitsbergen, killing all 141 aboard.

Libero Grassi, an Italian businessman from Palermo is killed by the Mafia after taking a solitary stand against their extortion demands.

Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union suspends all activities of the Soviet Communist Party.

The synthetic chemical element Meitnerium, atomic number 109, is first synthesized at the Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung in Darmstadt, Germany.

Chicano Moratorium against the Vietnam War, East Los Angeles, California. Police riot kills three people, including journalist Ruben Salazar.

The Beatles perform their last concert before paying fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

United States Air Force Academy opens in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Soviet atomic bomb project: The Soviet Union tests its first atomic bomb, known as ''First Lightning'' or ''Joe 1'', at Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan.

Slovak National Uprising takes place as 60,000 Slovak troops turn against the Nazis.

German-occupied Denmark scuttles most of its navy; Germany dissolves the Danish government.

The last 36 remaining inhabitants of St Kilda are voluntarily evacuated to other parts of Scotland.

Turkish forces set fire to Smyrna in Asia Minor.

Bapaume taken by the New Zealand Division in the Hundred Days Offensive

The United States passes the Philippine Autonomy Act.

US Navy salvage divers raise F-4, the first U.S. submarine sunk in accident.

Ishi, considered the last Native American to make contact with European Americans, emerges from the wilderness of northeastern California.

Japan changes Korea's name to ''Chōsen'' and appoints a governor-general to rule its new colony.

The Quebec Bridge collapses during construction, killing 75 workers.

The Russian battleship ''Slava'', the last of the five {{Sclass|Borodino|battleship}}s, is launched.

The Goodyear tire company is founded.

Gottlieb Daimler patents the world's first motorcycle.

Emperor Meiji orders the Abolition of the han system and the establishment of prefectures as local centers of administration. (Traditional Japanese date: July 14, 1871).

The Mount Washington Cog Railway opens, making it the world's first rack railway.

American Civil War: US Navy squadron captures forts at Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina.

Treaty of Nanking signing ends the First Opium War.

The United Kingdom legislates the abolition of slavery in its empire.

Michael Faraday discovers electromagnetic induction.

Portugal recognizes the Independence of Brazil.

Shays' Rebellion, an armed uprising of Massachusetts farmers, begins in response to high debt and tax burdens.

The first American Indian Reservation is established, at Indian Mills, New Jersey.

Frederick the Great attacks Saxony, beginning the Seven Years' War.

Warsaw falls without resistance to a small force under the command of Charles X Gustav of Sweden during The Deluge.

The Ottoman Turks capture Buda, the capital of the Hungarian Kingdom.

Battle of Mohács: The Ottoman Turks led by Suleiman the Magnificent defeat and kill the last Jagiellonian king of Hungary and Bohemia.

The Ottoman Turks capture Nándorfehérvár, now known as Belgrade.

Vasco da Gama decides to depart Calicut and return to Portugal.

The Treaty of Picquigny ends a brief war between France and England.

Battle of Winchelsea (or Les Espagnols sur Mer): The English naval fleet under King Edward III defeats a Castilian fleet of 40 ships.

Copper coins are minted in Japan for the first time (Traditional Japanese date: August 10, 708).