July 2002

Monday 01:

A Bashkirian Airlines Tupolev TU-154 and a DHL (German cargo) Boeing 757 collide in mid-air over southern Germany, killing 71.

Tuesday 02:

Steve Fossett becomes the first person to fly solo around the world nonstop in a balloon.

Thursday 04:

A Prestige Airlines cargo Boeing 707 crashes just short of the runway in Bangui, Central African Republic killing 25

Tuesday 09:

The African Union was established in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The first chairman was Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa.

Wednesday 10:

At a Sotheby's auction, Peter Paul Rubens' painting "The Massacre of the Innocents" is sold for £49.5million (US$76.2 million) to Lord Kenneth Thomson.

Friday 12:

Gay rights: The Superior Court of Ontario orders Ontario to recognize same-sex marriages.

Saturday 13:

A lighting strike sets off the Sour Biscuit Fire in Oregon and northern California, which had burned 499,570 acres (2,020 km²) when finally contained on September 5.

Sunday 14:

During Bastille Day celebrations, Jacques Chirac escapes an assassination attempt unscathed.

Monday 15:

Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and three other suspects convicted of murdering Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl.

Saturday 20:

Human Rights Watch releases a report stating that Sudanese government documents confirm support for the Arab Janjaweed militia in their campaign of ethnic cleansing against African Muslims in Darfur.

Sunday 21:

Telecom giant WorldCom files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the largest such filing in United States history.

Monday 22:

Israel assasinates Salah Shahade, the Commander-in-Chief of Hamas's military arm, Ezzedeen-al-qassam Brigades, along with 14 civilians.

Wednesday 24:

Alfred Moisiu becomes President of Albania.

Saturday 27:

Ukraine airshow disaster: A Sukhoi Su-27 fighter crashes during an air show at Lviv, Ukraine killing 85 and injuring more than 100 others, the largest air show disaster in history.

Sunday 28:

2002 - nine coal miners trapped in the flooded Quecreek Mine in Somerset, Pennsylvania, were rescued after 77 hours underground.

Tuesday 30:

Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie is the first woman to dunk in a basketball game.