Unix Timestamp: 1216339200
Friday, July 18. 2008, 12:00:00 AM UTC

Pressure is raised in Hungary for authorities to arrest alleged former Nazi war criminal László Csatáry, 97, who was discovered living in Hungary. Csatáry is wanted in connection with his role in the deportation of Jews to death cs during the Second World War. //www.smh.com.au/world/pressure-to-arrest-top-nazi-criminal-20120717-228f5.html ("Sydney Morning Herald")

78 people are killed and 66 are reported missing after the MV Skagit, a ferry carrying 280 people sinks off the coast of Zanzibar on its way from Tanzania. //www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/07/201271814217312822.html (Al Jazeera)

50 protesters arrested in the city of Hama are released. //www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14182585 (BBC)

A study in "Nature" confirms that the island of Britain was severed from continental Europe by a giant flood that cut away the Weald-Artois Anticline about 200,000 years ago. //www.nature.com/news/2007/070716/full/070716-11.html (Nature)

An initial probe into the crash of TAM Linhas Aéreas Flight 3054 suggests that the pilot tried to abort the landing. //edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/07/18/brazil.plane.crash/index.html (CNN)

As China struggles to deal with flooding in the provinces of Sichuan, Guizhou, Anhui, Hubei, and Jiangsu, the city of Chongqing is hit with the largest rainstorm in the city's meteorological records, killing 32. 12 people are reported missing. The city's transportation network has been shut down completely. //www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-07/18/content_5438852.htm (Xinhua via China Daily)

The "SS Nomadic", the last floating link to "Titanic", returns home to a large reception in Belfast.

The corpse of Dr. David Kelly is discovered, it appears that he committed suicide. Kelly was a British government advisor involved in the "September Dossier" investigation relating to the 2003 war on Iraq. Former Labour Junior Minister Glenda Jackson calls for Prime Minister Blair's resignation and a Mail on Sunday reporter asks, Do you have blood on your hands. Prime Minister? Blair refuses to comment, as does Communications Director Cbell. //news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3079787.stm

Convention on the Future of Europe finished its work and proposed the first European constitution.

In Baltimore, Maryland, a 60-car train derailment occurs in a tunnel sparking a fire that will last days and virtually shut down downtown Baltimore (see Howard Street Tunnel fire).

In Baltimore, Maryland, a 60-car train derailment occurs in a tunnel, sparking a fire that lasts days and virtually shuts down downtown Baltimore.

Alex Salmond resigns as the leader of the Scottish National Party.

Alex Salmond resigns as the leader of the Scottish National Party.

An F3 tornado away from the Westminster, Maryland city center injures 3 people and causes $5 million in damages.//www.city-data.com/city/Westminster-Maryland.htmlWestminster, Maryland (MD) Detailed Profile ndash relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders

The 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, begin.

Bosnian Serb President Radovan Karadžić resigns from public office in Republika Srpska after being indicted for war crimes.

Howard Hughes is sentenced to life imprisonment at ChesterCrown Court for the rape and murder of 7-year-old Sophie Hook at Llandudno 12 months previously. The trial judge recommends that Hughes, 31, should never be released.

A series of huge eruptions by the Soufrière Hills volcano sends lava flows and ash falls across a wide area of southern Montserrat.

In Buenos Aires, a terrorist attack destroys a building housing several Jewish organizations, killing 85 and injuring many more (see AMIA Bombing).

In Israel, a judge investigating a 1990 incident outside a mosque in Jerusalem in which at least 17 Palestinians were killed rules that Israeli police provoked the incident.

The National Assembly of the Republic of Poland elects Wojciech Jaruzelski to the new and powerful post of President of Poland.

Actress Rebecca Schaeffer is murdered by an obsessed fan, leading to stricter stalking laws in California.

United Airlines Flight 232 (Douglas DC-10) crashes in Sioux City, Iowa, killing 112 184 on board survive.

Nadia Comăneci earns the first of 7 perfect scores of 10 at the 1976 Summer Olympics.

A collision between two trains near Sevilla, Spain kills 76 people.

Bloody Friday: 22 bombs planted by the Provisional IRA explode in Belfast, Northern Ireland nine people are killed and 130 seriously injured.ref name=CAIN1972

Comedian George Carlin is arrested by Milwaukee police for public obscenity, for reciting his Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television at Summerfest.

Anwar Sadat expels 20,000 Soviet advisors from Egypt.

The Trucial States are formed in the Persian Gulf.

Gloria Diaz wins the Miss Universe Pageant, with the Philippines receiving its first title.

Chappaquiddick incident – Edward M. Kennedy drives off a bridge on his way home from a party on Chappaquiddick Island, Massachusetts. Mary Jo Kopechne, a former caign aide to his brother, dies in the early morning hours of July 19 in the submerged car.

John Fairfax lands in Hollywood Beach, Florida near Miami and becomes the first person to row across an ocean solo, after 180 days spent at sea on board 25' ocean rowboat 'Britannia' (left Gran Canaria on January 20, 1969).

The semiconductor company Intel is founded.

The United Kingdom announces the closing of its military bases in Malaysia and Singapore. Australia and the U.S. disapprove.

WWII: Hideki Tojo resigns as Prime Minister of Japan due to numerous setbacks in the war effort.

American forces push back the Germans in St. Lo, capturing the city.

British forces launch Operation Goodwood, an armoured offensive aimed at driving the Germans from the high ground to the south of Caen. The offensive ends 2 days later with only minimal gains.

WWII: The Germans test fly the Messerschmitt Me 262 (using only its jets) for the first time.

Wrong Way Corrigan takes off from New York, ostensibly heading for California. He lands in Ireland instead.

Adolf Hitler publishes his personal manifesto "Mein Kf".

"Pastor Aeternus": Pope Pius IX declares papal infallibility in matters of faith and morals.

The Navajo people begin their long march home.

The Battle of Fandane-Thiouthioune a religious war between the Serer people and the MuslimMarabouts of Senegambia.

President Lincoln issues a true proclamation of conscription of 500,000 men for the U.S. Civil War.

American Civil War: The first formal African American military unit, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, unsuccessfully assaults Confederate-held Fort Wagner but their valiant fighting still proves the worth of African American soldiers during the war. Their commander, Colonel Robert Shaw is shot leading the attack and was buried with his men (450 Union, 175 Confederate).

First ascent of Dent Blanche, one of the highest summits in the Alps.

Sunday) ndash The sixth bishop of Calcutta, Daniel Wilson, and Dr. James Taylor, Civil Surgeon at Dhaka, establish the first modern educational institution in the Indian subcontinent, Dhaka College.

Uruguay adopts its first constitution.

Uruguay secedes from Brazil (see Uruguay's independence).

Russia\\'s Patriotic War ndash Battle of Klyastitsy: Kulnev defeats Oudinot but sustains a mortal wound.

Napoleon signs a Concordat with Pope Pius VII.

The fleet of Tsar Peter The Great occupies Azov at the mouth of the Don River.

War of Mantuan Succession: Mantua is sacked by an imperial army led by Count Johann von Aldringen.

The city of Tartu, capital of the Bishopric of Dorpat, now in Estonia, surrenders to Russia.

The Lord Mayor of London proclaims Mary I the rightful QueenLady Jane Grey voluntarily abdicates.

Battle of the Solent: The fleets of England and France battle to a draw. The "Mary Rose" sinks during the naval engagement.

Tokhtamysh-Timur War: Battle of the Kondurcha River ndash Timur defeats Tokhtamysh of the Golden Horde in present day southeast Russia.

Hundred Years\\\' War: The kingdoms of England and France sign the Truce of Leulinghem, ending the second phase of the war and bringing a 13-year peace.

The bishop of Florence blesses the first foundational stone laid for the new "canile" (bell tower) of the Florence Cathedral. The tower was designed by the artist Giotto di Bondone.

King Edward I of England orders all Jews (then numbering around 16,000) to leave England by November 1 (All Saints Day) on the Hebrew calendar this is Tisha B'Av, a day that commemorates many calamities.

Alexius III Angelus overthrows Isaac II and becomes Byzantine Emperor.

Battle of Alarcos: Almohad ruler Abu Yusuf Ya\'qub al-Mansur decisively defeats Castilian King Alfonso VIII.

The Priory of St Mary's is founded in Bushmead.

Emperor Julian arrives at Antioch with an expeditionary force (60,000 men) and stays there for nine months to launch a caign against the Persian Empire. He secures the co-operation with Arsaces, king of Armenia, who fights a bloody guerrilla war against the Persians.

An earthquake strikes Nicaea (Turkey).

Julian builds at Samosata (Commagene) a fleet of 50 warships and over a 1,000 transport boats, for his expedition in Persia against king Shapur II the Great.

An earthquake strikes Al-Karak (Jordan).