Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier, is kidnapped by Palestinian militants in a cross-border raid from the Gaza Strip.

In ''Clinton v. City of New York'', the United States Supreme Court decides that the Line Item Veto Act of 1996 is unconstitutional.

An unmanned Progress spacecraft collides with the Russian space station Mir.

The Soufrière Hills volcano in Montserrat erupts resulting in the death of 19 people.

The Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia kills 19 U.S. servicemen.

Kim Campbell is chosen as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and becomes the first female Prime Minister of Canada.

Croatia and Slovenia declare their independence from Yugoslavia.

Avianca Flight 52 crashes into the village of Cove Neck, New York after running out of fuel, killing 73 people.

Greece abolishes the head shaving of recruits in the military.

Microsoft is restructured to become an incorporated business in its home state of Washington.

Missouri Governor Kit Bond issues an executive order rescinding the Extermination Order, formally apologizing on behalf of the state of Missouri for the suffering it had caused to the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

The State of Emergency is declared in India.

Mozambique achieves independence.

Broadcasting of the first live global satellite television programme: ''Our World''

The Korean War begins with the invasion of South Korea by North Korea.

''Long-Haired Hare'', starring Bugs Bunny, is released in theaters.

The Berlin airlift begins.

''The Diary of a Young Girl'' (better known as ''The Diary of Anne Frank'') is published.

World War II: The Battle of Tali-Ihantala, the largest battle ever fought in the Nordic Countries, begins.

Dr. Douglas Hyde is inaugurated as the first President of Ireland.

Diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and Colombia are established.

American Civil War veterans begin arriving at the Great Reunion of 1913.

Pittsburgh millionaire Harry Thaw shoots and kills prominent architect Stanford White.

Battle of the Little Bighorn and the death of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer.

Virginia becomes the 10th state to ratify the United States Constitution.

Gavriil Pribylov discovers St. George Island of the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea.

Maria Theresa of Austria is crowned Queen of Hungary.

Venetian Elena Cornaro Piscopia is the first woman awarded a doctorate of philosophy when she graduates from the University of Padua.

At the Diet of Augsburg the Augsburg Confession is presented to the Holy Roman Emperor by the Lutheran princes and Electors of Germany.

In the Battle of Fontenay-en-Puisaye, forces led by Charles the Bald and Louis the German defeat the armies of Lothair I of Italy and Pepin II of Aquitaine.

The Franks defeat the Burgundians in the Battle of Vézeronce.