A series of violent riots break out in Ürümqi, the capital city of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China.

The largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever discovered, consisting of more than 1,500 items, is found near the village of Hammerwich, near Lichfield, in Staffordshire, England.

North Korea launches at least two short-range Nodong-2 missiles, one SCUD missile and one long-range Taepodong-2 missile.

The first Indonesian presidential election is held.

SARS is declared to be contained by the WHO.

U.S. President Bill Clinton imposes trade and economic sanctions against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

Wolverhampton, England is hit by storms which include a tornado. The area is hit again with severe storms on August 1.

Japan launches a probe to Mars, and thus joins the United States and Russia as a space exploring nation.

Dolly the sheep becomes the first mammal cloned from an adult cell.

Armenia adopts its constitution, four years after their independence from the Soviet Union

Iran-Contra Affair: Oliver North is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gerhard A. Gesell to a three-year suspended prison term, two years probation, $150,000 in fines and 1,200 hours community service.

First instance of the LTTE using suicide attacks on Sri Lankan Army. The Black Tigers are born and in the following years continue to use it to deadly effect.

Military coup in Pakistan: Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the first elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, is overthrown.

Cape Verde gains its independence from Portugal.

Arthur Ashe becomes the first black man to win the Wimbledon singles title.

Catastrophic BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion) in Kingman, Arizona, following a fire that broke out as propane is being transferred from a railroad car to a storage tank, kills 11 firefighters.

Right to vote: the Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 years, is formally certified by President Richard Nixon.

Air Canada Flight 621 crashes near Toronto International Airport killing 109 people.

''The Late Late Show'', the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster, airs on RTÉ One for the first time.

Algeria becomes independent from France.

Elvis Presley records That's All Right, his first single to be released.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court is established.

The BBC broadcasts its first television news bulletin.

William Shockley invents the junction transistor.

Zionism: the Knesset passes the Law of Return which grants all Jews the right to immigrate to Israel.

Korean War: Task Force Smith

National Health Service Acts created the national public health systems in the United Kingdom

Larry Doby signs a contract with the Cleveland Indians baseball team, becoming the first black player in the American League. (Jackie Robinson had broken the color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in the National League 11 weeks earlier.)

The bikini is re-introduced in Paris, France (it was a Roman invention).

World War II: liberation of the Philippines declared.

World War II: An Allied invasion fleet sails for Sicily (Operation Husky, July 10, 1943).

Beginning of the Battle of Kursk, the largest full-scale battle in history and the world's largest tank battle at Prokhorovka village.

World War II: German troops reach the Dnieper River.

World War II: the United Kingdom and the Vichy France government break off diplomatic relations.

Spam, the luncheon meat, is introduced into the market by the Hormel Foods Corporation.

The National Labor Relations Act, which governs labor relations in the United States, is signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

"Bloody Thursday" – Police open fire on striking longshoremen in San Francisco.

Germany takes possession of Cameroon.

The coat of arms of the Baku governorate is established.

The Salvation Army is founded in the East End of London, England.

Admiral Charles Napier defeats the navy of the Portuguese usurper Dom Miguel at the third Battle of Cape St. Vincent.

France invades Algeria.

War of 1812: Battle of Chippawa

War of 1812: three weeks of British raids on Fort Schlosser, Black Rock and Plattsburgh, New York begin.

Venezuela declares independence from Spain.

The Battle of Wagram, the largest of the Napoleonic Wars.

The Convention of Artlenburg leads to the French occupation of Hanover (which had been ruled by the British king).

The United States Congress adopts the Olive Branch Petition.

The Battle of Chesma between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire begins.

Isaac Newton publishes ''Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica''.

John Guy sets sail from Bristol with 39 other colonists for Newfoundland.

Battle of Manolada between the Burgundian and Majorcan claimants of the Principality of Achaea.

Scotland and France form an alliance, the so-called "Auld Alliance", against England.