Summary of the Day ✨ 22 July (22/07)
On this day, India launched its ambitious Chandrayaan-2 lunar mission while Norway experienced devastating terror attacks including a bombing in Oslo and a massacre at a youth camp. Simultaneously, China mourned earthquake victims in Dingxi, the Syrian civil war intensified with territorial gains by Kurdish forces, and police mistakenly killed Jean Charles de Menezes during the search for London bombers.
Historical Events 📜
- 2019: Chandrayaan-2, the second lunar exploration mission developed by Indian Space Research Organisation after Chandrayaan-1 is launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in a GSLV Mark III M1. It consists of a lunar orbiter, and also included the Vikram lander, and the Pragyan lunar rover.
- 2013: Dingxi earthquakes: A series of earthquakes in Dingxi, China, kills at least 89 people and injures more than 500 others.
- 2012: Syrian civil war: The People’s Protection Units (YPG) captured the cities of Serê Kaniyê and Dirbêsiyê, during clashes with pro-government forces in Al-Hasakah.
- 2011: Norway attacks: A bomb explodes, targeted at government buildings in central Oslo, followed by a massacre at a youth camp on the island of Utøya.
- 2005: Jean Charles de Menezes is killed by police as the hunt begins for the London Bombers responsible for the 7 July 2005 London bombings and the 21 July 2005 London bombings.
- 2003: Iraq War: Members of 101st Airborne of the United States, aided by Special Forces, attack a compound in Iraq, killing Saddam Hussein’s sons Uday and Qusay, along with Mustapha Hussein, Qusay’s 14-year-old son, and a bodyguard.
- 1997: The second Blue Water Bridge opens between Port Huron, Michigan and Sarnia, Ontario.
- 1993: Great Flood of 1993: Levees near Kaskaskia, Illinois rupture, forcing the entire town to evacuate by barges operated by the Army Corps of Engineers.
- 1992: Near Medellín, Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar escapes from his luxury prison fearing extradition to the United States.
- 1990: Greg LeMond, an American road racing cyclist, wins his third Tour de France after leading the majority of the race. It was LeMond’s second consecutive Tour de France victory.
- 1983: Martial law in Poland is officially revoked.
- 1981: The first game of the 1981 South Africa rugby union tour of New Zealand and the United States is held in Gisborne, New Zealand.
- 1977: Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping is restored to power.
- 1976: Japan completes its last reparation to the Philippines for war crimes committed during imperial Japan’s conquest of the country in the Second World War.
- 1973: Pan Am Flight 816 crashes after takeoff from Faa’a International Airport in Papeete, French Polynesia, killing 78.
Famous Births 👶
- 2013: Prince George of Wales
- 2006: Javon Walton, American actor and boxer
- 2003: Solveig Vik, Norwegian politician
- 2002: Konstanse Marie Alvær, Norwegian politician
- 2002: Prince Felix of Denmark
- 2000: Garrett Wilson, American football player
- 1999: Sidney Chu, Hong Kong skater
- 1999: Jason Robertson, American ice hockey player
- 1998: Marc Cucurella, Spanish footballer
- 1998: Larray, American YouTuber
- 1998: Madison Pettis, American actress
- 1998: Federico Valverde, Uruguayan footballer
- 1998: Sahaphap Wongratch, Thai actor, model, and singer
- 1996: Kevin Fiala, Swiss ice hockey player
- 1996: Skyler Gisondo, American actor
Notable Deaths 🕊️
- 2025: John Fallon, Scottish footballer (born 1940)
- 2025: George Kooymans, Dutch musician (born 1948)
- 2025: Ozzy Osbourne, English musician and media personality (born 1948)
- 2025: Chuck Mangione, American musician (born 1940)
- 2025: Shelly Zegart, American quilt collector, historian, and advocate (born 1941)
- 2024: Mark Carnevale, American golfer and radio commentator (born 1960)
- 2024: Duke Fakir, American singer (born 1935)
- 2024: John Mayall, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (born 1933)
- 2022: Maria Petri, English association football supporter (born 1939)
- 2018: Frank Havens, American canoeist (born 1924)
- 2014: Johann Breyer, German SS officer (born 1925)
- 2014: Louis Lentin, Irish director and producer (born 1933)
- 2014: Nitzan Shirazi, Israeli footballer and manager (born 1971)
- 2013: Natalie de Blois, American architect, co-designed the Lever House (born 1921)
- 2013: Dennis Farina, American policeman and actor (born 1944)
Holidays & Observances 🎉
- Christian feast day:
Abd-al-Masih - Christian feast day:
Markella - Christian feast day:
Mary Magdalene - Christian feast day:
Nohra (Maronite Church) - Christian feast day:
Anna Wang - Christian feast day:
July 22 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) - Sarawak Independence Day (Sarawak, Malaysia)