Summary of the Day ✨ 8 July (08/07)
On this day, history witnessed both tragedy and significant events as former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated while Israel launched an offensive on Gaza following the kidnapping of Israeli teenagers. Meanwhile, Brazil suffered a devastating 7-1 defeat to Germany in the World Cup semifinals, the Space Shuttle program concluded with Atlantis’s final launch, and Sudan Airways Flight 139 crashed, killing 116 passengers.
Historical Events 📜
- 2022: Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe is shot and killed with an improvised firearm due to resentment against the Unification Church.
- 2014: Israel launches an offensive on Gaza amid rising tensions following the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers.
- 2014: The Brazil national football team suffers its joint-worst defeat, losing 7–1 to Germany in the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup, in a match dubbed the Mineiraço.
- 2011: Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched in the final mission of the U.S. Space Shuttle program.
- 2003: Sudan Airways Flight 139 crashes near Port Sudan Airport during an emergency landing attempt, killing 116 of the 117 people on board.
- 1994: Kim Jong Il begins to assume supreme leadership of North Korea upon the death of his father, Kim Il Sung.
- 1994: Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on an international science mission.
- 1990: West Germany win the FIFA World Cup final against defending champions Argentina, with Andreas Brehme scoring the game’s only goal.
- 1988: The Island Express train travelling from Bangalore to Kanyakumari derails on the Peruman bridge and falls into Ashtamudi Lake, Kerala in India killing 105 passengers and injuring over 200 more.
- 1982: A failed assassination attempt against Iraqi president Saddam Hussein results in the Dujail Massacre over the next several months.
- 1980: The inaugural 1980 State of Origin game is won by Queensland who defeat New South Wales 20–10 at Lang Park.
- 1980: Aeroflot Flight 4225 crashes near Almaty International Airport in the then Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (present day Kazakhstan) killing all 166 people on board.
- 1972: Israeli Mossad assassinate Palestinian writer Ghassan Kanafani.
- 1970: Richard Nixon delivers a special congressional message enunciating Native American self-determination as official US Indian policy, leading to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975.
- 1968: The Chrysler wildcat strike begins in Detroit, Michigan.
Famous Births 👶
- 1999: İpek Öz, Turkish tennis player
- 1998: Maya Hawke, American actress
- 1998: Jaden Smith, American actor and rapper
- 1997: Bryce Love, American football player
- 1996: Marlon Humphrey, American football player
- 1993: David Corenswet, American actor
- 1992: Ariel Camacho, Mexican singer-songwriter (died 2015)
- 1992: Son Heung-min, Korean footballer
- 1991: Virgil van Dijk, Dutch footballer
- 1990: Kevin Trapp, German footballer
- 1989: Yarden Gerbi, Israeli Judo champion
- 1989: Tor Marius Gromstad, Norwegian footballer (died 2012)
- 1988: Miki Roqué, Spanish footballer (died 2012)
- 1988: Jesse Sergent, New Zealand cyclist
- 1987: Josh Harrison, American baseball player
Notable Deaths 🕊️
- 2025: Edward D. DiPrete, American politician, 70th Governor of Rhode Island
- 2025: Paulette Jiles, American writer (born 1943)
- 2022: Shinzo Abe, Japanese politician (born 1954)
- 2022: Larry Storch, American actor and comedian (born 1923)
- 2022: Luis Echeverría, Mexican lawyer and politician (born 1922)
- 2022: Tony Sirico, American actor (born 1942)
- 2020: Naya Rivera, American actress, model and singer (born 1987)
- 2020: Alex Pullin, Australian snowboarder (born 1987)
- 2018: Tab Hunter, American actor, pop singer, film producer and author (born 1931)
- 2016: Abdul Sattar Edhi, Pakistani philanthropist (born 1928)
- 2015: Ken Stabler, American football player and sportscaster (born 1945)
- 2015: James Tate, American poet (born 1943)
- 2014: Plínio de Arruda Sampaio, Brazilian lawyer and politician (born 1930)
- 2014: John V. Evans, American soldier and politician, 27th Governor of Idaho (born 1925)
- 2014: Ben Pangelinan, Guamanian businessman and politician (born 1956)
Holidays & Observances 🎉
- Christian Feast Day:
Abda and Sabas - Christian Feast Day:
Auspicius of Trier - Christian Feast Day:
Grimbald - Christian Feast Day:
Kilian and Totnan - Christian Feast Day:
Saints Peter and Fevronia Day (Russian Orthodox) - Christian Feast Day:
Procopius of Scythopolis - Christian Feast Day:
Sunniva and companions - Christian Feast Day:
Theobald of Marly - Christian Feast Day:
July 8 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) - Air Force and Air Defense Forces Day (Ukraine)