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Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The year 2007 was designated:
Also see: Wikipedia's almanac of events for this year.
UNESCO has recognized fifteen anniversaries for 2007.[6]
Events of 2007
January
- January 4 - Nancy Pelosi becomes the first female speaker of the United States House of Representatives.
- January 5 - War in Somalia: The first shots are fired in the battle for control of the border town of Ras Kamboni.
- January 8 - Daniel Ortega becomes President of Nicaragua for the second time.
- January 8 - Russian oil supplies to Poland, Germany, and Ukraine are cut as the Russia-Belarus energy dispute escalates; restored three days later.
- January 9 - War in Somalia: U.S. planes conduct air strikes in Somalia against suspected terrorists.
- January 9 - An AerianTur-M Antonov An-26 crashes in Balad, Iraq. The Islamic Army in Iraq claims to have shot it down.
- January 9 - Apple Inc. announces and introduces the highly speculated iPhone at the 2007 Macworld Conference & Expo.
- January 10 - U.S. President George W. Bush announces a plan to station 21,500 additional troops in Iraq.
- January 11 - In Bangladesh, a state of emergency is declared by caretaker President Iajuddin Ahmed, following weeks of violent protests preceding upcoming parliamentary elections.
- January 11 - Vietnam joins the World Trade Organization as its 150th member.
- January 11 - China successfully tests a ground-based ballistic missile capable of destroying satellites in orbit, drawing criticisms from other countries.
- January 12 - An Argentine judge issues a warrant for the arrest of former President Isabel Martínez de Perón in connection with the disappearance of a human rights worker in 1976.
- January 12 - The US Embassy in Athens is attacked with a rocket propelled grenade, which caused minimal damage and no injuries.
- January 12 - Comet McNaught, the brightest comet in over 40 years, makes perihelion.
- January 13 - The Greek ship Server breaks in half off the Norwegian coast, releasing over 200 tons of crude oil.
- January 14 - The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement adopts the Red Crystal as a non-religious emblem for use in its overseas operations.
- January 14 - Nazanin Fatehi, a 19 year old Iranian girl previously sentenced to death for killing a man she claimed tried to rape her niece, is exonerated in a retrial.
- January 17 - Hurricane force winds from storm Kyrill claim at least 40 lives in western Europe.
- January 17 - Protests occur in India and the United Kingdom against the British series of Celebrity Big Brother after Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara were alleged to have been racially abusive towards Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty.
- January 17 - Doomsday Clock is advanced from 7 to 5 minutes to midnight.
- January 18 - Comet McNaught, the brightest comet to appear in over 40 years, becomes visible over the Southern Hemisphere.
- January 18 - The strongest storm in the UK in 17 years kills 14 people, and Germany sees the worst storm since 1999 with 13 deaths. Hurricane Kyrill causes at least 44 deaths across 20 countries in Western Europe.
- January 19 - Israel releases $100 million in frozen assets to President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian National Authority in order to bolster the president's position.[8]
- January 22 - A bombing in a market in Baghdad, Iraq kills 88 people.
- January 24 - The Israeli Ministry of Justice announces that the President of Israel, Moshe Katsav, will be charged with rape and abuse of power.
- January 25 - The President of Israel, Moshe Katsav, takes a temporary leave of absence due to a sex scandal.
- January 28 - A battle between insurgents and U.S.-backed Iraqi troops kills 300 suspected resistance members in Najaf, Iraq.
- January 28 - February 4 - The 2007 Asian Winter Games are held in Changchun, China.
- January 29 - A suicide bomber kills three people in a bakery in Eilat, Israel.
- January 30 - Microsoft releases Windows Vista and Office 2007.
- January 31 - The Venezuelan National Assembly gives President Hugo Chávez the power to rule by decree for 18 months.
- January 31 - Delta Air Lines creditors reject US Airways' hostile takeover bid.
- January 31 - The Mooninite scare occurs in Boston, when devices used in a guerrilla marketing campaign for the animated television series Aqua Teen Hunger Force are mistaken for improvised explosive devices.
February
- February 1 - British Prime Minister Tony Blair is questioned for a second time in the 'cash for peerages (Cash for Honours)' probe as a witness.
- February 2 - An unseasonal tornado in central Florida kills at least 20 people.
- February 2 - Palestinian factional violence: Hamas and its rival Fatah renew their truce after violence broke out following the initial ceasefire.
- February 2 - Chinese President Hu Jintao signs a series of economic deals with Sudan.
- February 2 - War in Somalia: Eight people are killed in a mortar attack in Somalia's capital Mogadishu.
- February 2 - Martti Ahtisaari unveils a United Nations plan for the final status of Kosovo; Serbian leaders denounce the proposal.
- February 2 - The IPCC publishes its fourth assessment report, having concluded that global climate change is "very likely" to have a predominantly human cause.
- February 3 - The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu is found at a Bernard Matthews turkey farm in Suffolk, England.
- February 3 - State of Emergency is declared in Indonesia after 'El Nino'-like flooding.
- February 3 - A truck bombing in a crowded Baghdad market kills at least 135 people and injures a further 339 others.
- February 4 - The Indianapolis Colts defeat the Chicago Bears 29-17 in Super Bowl XLI, played at Dolphin Stadium, Miami.
- February 10 - U.S. Senator Barack Obama of Illinois announces a presidential bid in Springfield, Illinois.
- February 11 - Portuguese voters agree to legalise abortion in a national referendum.
- February 11 - The 49th Annual Grammy Awards take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
- February 12 - An armed gunman shoots and kills five people at the Trolley Square Mall in Salt Lake City, Utah, before being killed by the police, bringing the evening's rampage death toll to six.
- February 13 - North Korea agrees to shut down its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon by April 14 as a first step towards complete denuclearization, receiving in return energy aid equivalent to 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil.[9]
- February 13 - Taiwan opposition leader Ma Ying-jeou resigns as the chairman of the Kuomintang party after being indicted on charges of embezzlement; Ma also announces his candidacy for the 2008 presidential election.
- February 22 - A large fire causes 26 fatalities in care center "Reģi" which is located in Alsunga, Latvia.
- February 25 - The European Space Agency confirms Rosetta's successful Mars trajectory fly-by.
- February 25 - The 79th Academy Awards ceremony, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, takes place at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. The Departed wins Best Picture.
- February 26 - The International Court of Justice finds Serbia guilty of failing to prevent genocide in the Srebrenica massacre, but clears it of direct responsibility and complicity in the case.
- February 27 - The Chinese Correction: world stock markets plummet after China and Europe release less-than-expected growth reports.
- February 27 - 2007 Bagram Air Base bombing: A Taliban suicide attack at Bagram Air Base while Vice President of the United States Dick Cheney is visiting kills 23, but he is not injured.
- February 28 - The New Horizons space probe makes a gravitational slingshot against Jupiter which changes its trajectory towards Pluto.
March
- March - India's 10th Five Year Plan comes to an end.
- March 1 - International Polar Year, a $1.5 billion research program to study both the North Pole and South Pole, is launched in Paris.
- March 1 - Airbus announces that it will cease work indefinitely on the A380F freight aircraft.
- March 3 - Total lunar eclipse.
- March 4 - Parliamentary elections take place in Estonia and in Abkhazia.
- March 5 - March 15 - The 2007 National People's Congress is held in Beijing, China. The Property Law of the People's Republic of China is officially adopted.
- March 6 - Mega Millions sets a new world record for the highest lottery jackpot of US $370 million.
- March 7 - Garuda Indonesia Flight 200, a Boeing 737-400, crashes at Yogyakarta on the Indonesian island of Java, killing many on board.
- March 7 - Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2007 is held.
- March 8 - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert admits that Israel had planned an attack on Lebanon in the event of kidnapped soldiers on the border, months before Hezbollah carried out its kidnapping.
- March 12 - Alan Johnston, a BBC journalist, disappears in Gaza City, Palestine.
- March 17 - Chlorine bombs injure hundreds in Baghdad, Iraq.
- March 22 - NATO troops launch two assaults in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, killing 38.
- March 23 - Naval forces of Iran's Revolutionary Guard seize Royal Navy personnel in disputed Iran-Iraq waters.
- March 23 - Eight human skeletons are discovered in Fort Myers, Florida, later linked to suspected serial killer Daniel Conahan.
- March 25 - In Berlin 27 European ministers celebrate the 50-year Treaty of Rome.
- March 25 - Ozeki Hakuho clinches the Emperor's Cup at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament (Haru Basho) in Osaka, Japan.
- March 26 - In the Canadian province of Québec, the Liberal Party wins a National Assembly election with 48 seats out of 125 and forms a minority government.
- March 27 - Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvitis and Prime minister of Russia Mikhail Fradkov finally sign a border treaty between Latvia and Russia.
- March 31 - Sydney, Australia, turns off its lights for one hour between 7:30pm and 8:30pm as a political statement about Global Climate Change.
April
- April 16 - 32 people are killed in the Virginia Tech massacre on the premises of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia.
- April 17 - The Pound Sterling hits a 15-year high against the US dollar, breaking through the US$2 level for the first time since 1992.
- April 17 – The 2014 Asian Games is awarded to be held in Incheon, South Korea, winning over India's New Delhi.
- April 18 - 32 Chinese steel workers are burnt to death in the Qinghe Special Steel Corporation disaster.
- April 19 - US and allied air forces conduct massive exercises over South Korea with over 500 planes.[10]
- April 21 - Presidential elections are held in Nigeria.
- April 22 - The first round of the French presidential election of 2007 takes place.
- April 23 - Bogotá, Colombia, begins its term as World Book Capital.
- April 24 - Abortion is legalized in Mexico City.
- April 24 - Gliese 581 c, a potentially habitable Earth-like extrasolar planet, is discovered in the constellation Libra.
- April 25 - The Dow Jones Industrial Average gains 135.95 points to close at 13089.89; its first close above 13000 in its history.
- April 25 - The Burj Dubai reaches the height of the Sears Tower on its way to becoming the tallest building in the world.
- April 25 - Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), introduces articles to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney.[11]
- April 26 - Russians riot in Tallinn, Estonia, about moving the Bronze Soldier. Two nights of rioting leave one dead.
- April 27 - Turkish Presidential Election first round, which was later declared invalid by a Turkish court.
May
- May 6 - Nicolas Sarkozy is elected President of the French Republic, defeating Ségolène Royal with 53% of the vote in the French Presidential Election.
- May 6 - Manchester United wins the English Premier League.
- May 6 - Panathinaikos BC wins basketball's Euroleague after beating CSKA Moscow 93-91 in Athens Olympic stadium.
- May 6 - A.C. Paranavaí wins its first ever Paraná State Championship.
- May 7 - Chinese slave scandal.
- May 8 - Devolved government is restored to Northern Ireland, with Ian Paisley as First Minister and Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister.
- May 9 - Subtropical Storm Andrea forms off the coast of Florida, the earliest subtropical storm since Subtropical Storm Ana in 2003.
- May 10 - Tony Blair announces he will resign as British Prime Minister on 27 June triggering a Labour Party leadership election.
- May 12 - The final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 is held in Helsinki, resulting in Serbia's first victory.
- May 13 - Tomislav Nikolić resigns at duty of president Serbian parliament.
- May 14 - Senatorial Elections in the Philippines was held.
- May 14 - Famed singer Bobby Darin receives a star on the Hollywood walk of fame.
- May 15 - Coalition government of Fatah and Hamas in Palestinian National Authority appeared to break down, as massive fighting breaks out in Gaza Strip.
- May 16 - The General Assembly of the United Nations, recognizing that genuine multilingualism promotes unity in diversity and international understanding, proclaimed 2008 the International Year of Languages [1].
- May 16 - Nicolas Sarkozy becomes President of the French Republic after taking over from Jacques Chirac.
- May 17 - Alex Salmond becomes First Minister of Scotland after taking over from Jack McConnell.
- May 17 - The Russian Orthodox Church Abroad and the Moscow Patriarchate re-united after eighty years of schism.
- May 17 - Hong Kong media regulator receives more than thousand complaints about the Bible being too sexual.
- May 19 - The 126th FA Cup Final is held, the first at the new Wembley Stadium. Chelsea defeat Manchester United 1-0.
- May 20 - The ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum makes the largest single charitable donation in modern history, committing €7.41 billion to an educational foundation in the Middle East.
- May 20 - Clashes in Tripoli, Lebanon, spark the 2007 Lebanon conflict.
- May 21 - The 19th century ship the Cutty Sark is badly damaged by fire in London, UK.
- May 23 - A.C. Milan beat Liverpool F.C. 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League 2006-07 final at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece.
- May 24 - General election in the Republic of Ireland. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and his Fianna Fáil party win a majority of seats for the third election in a row.
- May 25 - Ozeki Hakuho clinches the Emperor's Cup at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament (Natsu Basho) in Tokyo, Japan.
- May 25 - Danish former professional bicyclist Bjarne Riis admitted to having used doping when winning the 1996 Tour de France.
- May 26 - Russia is once again recognized as a full-fledged superpower by the United States.[12]
- May 27 - Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV) is taken off the air after the government of Venezuela refused to renew its license. This action results in protests. On July 16, 2007, RCTV resumed broadcasting via cable and satellite.
- May 27 - Dario Franchitti wins the 2007 Indianapolis 500.
- May 28 - Riyo Mori was crowned the new Miss Universe 2007 in Mexico City.
- May 29 - Inauguration of newly elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the Abuja Eagle Square and first civilian to civilian transfer of power in Nigeria.
- May 31 - Valdis Zatlers is elected President of Latvia, defeating Aivars Endziņš in the Latvian presidential election.
- May 31 - A calendar blue moon occurred in the Western Hemisphere and parts of the Eastern Hemisphere.
June
- June 8 - The Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on mission STS-117.
- June 8 - Storms in the coastal city of Newcastle, New South Wales[20] kill nine and flood the city and its surrounding areas.[21]
- June 10 - The first round of a legislative election was held in France, and a general election was held in Belgium.
- June 10 - The 61st Tony Awards, honoring Broadway theatres' best shows, took place at Radio City Music Hall.
- June 10 - Lewis Hamilton wins the Canadian Grand Prix, becoming the first driver of mixed racial origin to win a Formula One race.
- June 14 - The Green Party enters government for the first time in Ireland, with Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats.
- June 16 - Rock band Muse play the first sold out gig at the newly rebuilt Wembley Stadium.
- June 18 - Nine Charleston, South Carolina firefighters are killed by a roof collapse while battling a furniture store fire.
- June 20 - The Argentinian team Boca Juniors beat the Brazilian team Grêmio to win the Copa Libertadores 2007.
- June 22 - An F5 tornado tears through Elie, Manitoba, no injuries are reported.
- June 24 - The refurbished Millennium Dome, now called The O2, reopens in London.
- June 24 - A wildfire destroys 254 homes in the South Lake Tahoe area.
- June 25 - Groundbreaking of the Chicago Spire occurs.
- June 25 - Intense heatwaves begin to hit south-east Europe as temperatures reach 46c in Bulgaria and Greece.
- June 25 - Following the wettest June on record in the United Kingdom, Sheffield and South Yorkshire are affected by flooding. Much of Sheffield, Doncaster and Rotherham is flooded when the River Don breaches its banks.
- June 26-July 15 - The Copa América 2007 soccer tournament takes place in Venezuela.
- June 27 - Tony Blair resigns as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; New Labour Party leader Gordon Brown is appointed Prime Minister by Queen Elizabeth II.
- June 27 - The military police of the state of Rio de Janeiro invades the favela of Complexo do Alemão ending in a massacre.
- June 28 - In the aftermath of Greece's worst heatwave in a century, at least 11 people are reported dead from heatstroke, approximately 200 wildfires break out nationwide, and the country's electricity grid nearly collapses due to record breaking demand.
- June 29 - British police defuse a bomb in Haymarket, Central London.[22]
- June 29 - Apple's new iPhone is released in the US.
- June 30 - A Jeep Cherokee drove into the entrance of the main terminal of Glasgow International Airport in an apparent terrorist incident, resulting in a petrol-driven fire.[23]
- June 30 - A calendar blue moon occurs in most of the Eastern Hemisphere.
- June 30 - The FIFA U-20 World Cup 2007 soccer tournament takes place in Canada.
- June 30 - A parliamentary election is held in Papua New Guinea.
- June 30 - The Hawaii Superferry arrives in Honolulu after a 7,600 mile journey from Mobile, Alabama.
July
- July 1 - Hong Kong celebrates 10 years of Chinese rule.
- July 1 - Portugal takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from Germany.
- July 1 - Smoking in public and work places is banned in England.
- July 1 - Smoking is banned in pubs and clubs in New South Wales and Victoria, Australia.
- July 1 - A law goes into effect lowering the voting age in Austria from 18 to 16 in federal elections.
- July 1 - Russia is composed of 85 federal subjects instead of 86 as Koryak Autonomous Okrug and Kamchatka Oblast were merged into the Kamchatka Krai following a 2005 referendum.
- July 1 - The Concert For Diana is held at Wembley Stadium to commemorate Diana, Princess of Wales.
- July 2 - Venus and Saturn are in conjunction, separation 46 arcsecs.
- July 3 - Torrential rains cause the onset of the 2007 Sudan floods, the worst in the Sudan's history.
- July 4 - The 50-star U.S. flag becomes the longest-flying American flag, replacing the 48-star flag that flew from 1912 to 1959.
- July 4 - Sochi is elected as the host city of the 2014 Winter Olympics, during the 119th International Olympic Committee Session in Guatemala City.
- July 4 - After being held captive for 114 days, BBC journalist Alan Johnston was freed by his Palestinian kidnappers.
- July 7 - Venus Williams wins the Women's Singles at Wimbledon for a fourth time.
- July 7 - Live Earth Concerts are held throughout 9 major cities around the world.
- July 7-July 29 - The 2007 Tour de France begins, with a grand départ from London.
- July 7-July 29 - The Asian Cup 2007 Football (Soccer) tournament begins, taking place in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
- July 8 - Boeing launches the new Boeing 787.
- July 10 - A Cessna 310R twin-engine airplane crashes into two homes in Sanford, Florida, killing three adults and two children.
- July 10 - Zheng Xiaoyu, head of State Food and Drug Administration of the People's Republic of China executed.
- July 11 - The ninth All Africa Games kick off in Algiers, Algeria
- July 12 - Queen Elizabeth II visits the world's largest Commonwealth war grave in Ypres, Belgium to pay respects to fallen soldiers of the Battle of Passchendaele.
Rising steam from the New York steam pipe explosion
