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Earth completes its shortest recorded day due to a slight acceleration in rotation, with July 9 lasting approximately 1.3 to 1.6 milliseconds less than 24 hours.

South Sudan gains independence and secedes from Sudan.

A rally takes place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to call for fairer elections in the country.

One hundred and twenty-five people are killed when S7 Airlines Flight 778, an Airbus A310 passenger jet, veers off the runway while landing in wet conditions at Irkutsk Airport in Siberia.

Italy win their fourth World Cup title, defeating France 5–3 on penalties following a 1–1 draw after extra time.

The Senate Report on Iraqi WMD Intelligence is released by the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, casting doubt on the rationale for the Iraq War.

The African Union is established in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, replacing the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The organization's first chairman is Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa.

Days of student protests begin after Iranian police and hardliners attack a student dormitory at the University of Tehran.

An explosion aboard a Brazilian airline TAM Fokker 100 launches engineer Fernando Caldeira de Moura Campos into a 2,400 meters free fall.

The Navaly church bombing is carried out by the Sri Lanka Air Force killing 125 Tamil civilian refugees.

English actress (The Chronicles of Narnia film series)

American stage and screen actor (Ain't Too Proud; Hollywood)

American actor (Hannah Montana -"Oliver'; Pair of Kings)

Greek footballer

American actor (2023 Tony for "Leopoldstadt")

American singer and actress (Aqua in "The Cheetah Girls")

New Zealand cricket wicketkeeper (79 Tests

Canadian singer (Hedley)

American violinist (Josh Groban) and actress (Treme)

Australian cricket batsman (38 Tests

American ballroom dancer on "Dancing with the Stars"

Turkish jazz pianist

American political commentator (Fox News)

Korean-born American actress (Stra Trek: Enterprise)

German pop singer (Now Or Never)