Summary of the Day ✨ 3 July (03/07)
Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsi is ousted by the military amid nationwide protests, with the Supreme Court chief appointed as interim leader, while the USS Vincennes tragically shoots down Iran Air Flight 655 killing all 290 aboard, and British Prime Minister John Major announces the return of the Stone of Scone to Scotland. In a day marked by both political upheaval and tragedy, Egypt undergoes leadership transition, Valencia suffers a deadly metro derailment claiming 41 lives, and Istanbul celebrates the completion of its second bridge connecting Europe and Asia.
Historical Events 📜
- 2013: President of Egypt Mohamed Morsi is removed from office by the military after four days of protests all over the country calling for his resignation, to which he did not respond. The president of the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt, Adly Mansour, is declared acting president until further elections are held.
- 2006: The Valencia Metro derailment kills 41 people.
- 1996: British Prime Minister John Major announced the Stone of Scone would be returned to Scotland.
- 1988: United States Navy warship USS Vincennes shoots down Iran Air Flight 655 over the Persian Gulf, killing all 290 people aboard.
- 1988: The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey is completed, providing the second connection between the continents of Europe and Asia over the Bosphorus.
- 1979: U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul.
- 1973: David Bowie retires his stage persona Ziggy Stardust with the surprise announcement that it is “the last show that we’ll ever do” on the last day of the Ziggy Stardust Tour.
- 1970: The Troubles: The “Falls Curfew” begins in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
- 1970: Dan-Air Flight 1903 crashes into the Les Agudes mountain in the Montseny Massif near the village of Arbúcies in Catalonia, Spain, killing all 112 people aboard.
- 1967: The Aden Emergency: The Battle of the Crater in which the British Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders retake the Crater district following the Arab Police mutiny.
- 1952: The Constitution of Puerto Rico is approved by the United States Congress.
- 1952: The SS United States sets sail on her maiden voyage to Southampton. During the voyage, the ship takes the Blue Riband away from the RMS Queen Mary.
- 1944: World War II: The Minsk Offensive clears German troops from the city.
- 1940: World War II: The Royal Navy attacks the French naval squadron in Algeria, to ensure that it will not fall under German control. Of the four French battleships present, one is sunk, two are damaged, and one escapes back to France.
- 1938: World speed record for a steam locomotive is set in England, by the Mallard, which reaches a speed of 125.88 miles per hour (202.58 km/h).
Famous Births 👶
- 1999: Nefisa Berberović, Bosnian tennis player
- 1998: Kim Dong-han, South Korean singer
- 1997: T. J. Hockenson, American football player
- 1996: Cole Tucker, American baseball player
- 1996: Alex Twal, Australian-Lebanese rugby league player
- 1994: Chris Jones, American football player
- 1993: PartyNextDoor, Canadian singer-songwriter and record producer
- 1992: Crystal Dunn, American soccer player
- 1991: Alison Howie, Scottish field hockey player
- 1991: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Russian tennis player
- 1990: Nathan Gardner, Australian rugby league player
- 1990: Bobby Hopkinson, English footballer
- 1990: Lucas Mendes, Brazilian footballer
- 1990: Alison Riske-Amritraj, American tennis player
- 1989: Danilo Cavalcante, Brazilian convicted murderer
Notable Deaths 🕊️
- 2025: Borja Gómez, Spanish motorcycle rider (born 2005)
- 2025: Diogo Jota, Portuguese footballer (born 1996)
- 2025: David Mabuza, South African politician, 8th Deputy President of South Africa (born 1960)
- 2025: Michael Madsen, American actor (born 1957)
- 2025: Peter Rufai, Nigerian footballer (born 1963)
- 2025: André Silva, Portuguese footballer (born 2000)
- 2025: Lolit Solis, Filipino talent manager, columnist and talk show host (born 1947)
- 2020: Saroj Khan, Indian dance choreographer (born 1948)
- 2015: Diana Douglas, British-American actress (born 1923)
- 2015: Boyd K. Packer, American religious leader and educator (born 1924)
- 2015: Wayne Townsend, American farmer and politician (born 1926)
- 2015: Phil Walsh, Australian footballer and coach (born 1960)
- 2014: Jini Dellaccio, American photographer (born 1917)
- 2014: Tim Flood, Irish hurler and coach (born 1927)
- 2014: Volkmar Groß, German footballer (born 1948)
Holidays & Observances 🎉
- Christian feast day:
Anatolius of Constantinople - Christian feast day:
Anatolius of Laodicea - Christian feast day:
Dathus - Christian feast day:
Germanus of Man - Christian feast day:
Gurthiern - Christian feast day:
Heliodorus of Altino - Christian feast day:
Mucian - Christian feast day:
Peregrina Mogas Fontcuberta - Christian feast day:
Pope Leo II - Christian feast day:
Thomas the Apostle - Christian feast day:
July 3 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) - Emancipation Day (United States Virgin Islands)
- Independence Day, celebrates the liberation of Minsk from Nazi occupation by Soviet troops in 1944 (Belarus)
- The start of the Dog Days according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac but not according to established meaning in most European cultures
- Women’s Day (Myanmar)