Important Events From This day in History July 8

 

2000 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

2000 : The latest Harry Potter book has been released and for the first time a Harry Potter book is released simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic. This is the forth book in the Harry Potter series and the initial run is over 5 million books with many book sellers opened at midnight for devoted followers to get their copy.

1889 U.S.A. Wall Street Journal

1889 : The Wall Street Journal is first published by Dow Jones & Company created by Charles Dow, Edward Jones, and Charles Bergstresser. The original Journal featured stock and bond prices on the New York Stock Exchange but now covers U.S. and international business and financial news and issues with a worldwide daily circulation of more than 2 million.

1932 French Submarine Prominthee

1932 : The French Submarine Prominthee sank while doing testing maneuvers in Cherbourg Harbor taking 66 crew members to a depth of 130 ft, poor conditions due to tide and strong winds are hampering attempts to locate the Submarine and it is thought unlikely any survivors will be found.

1947 U.S.A. Mysterious Flying Disc

1947 : There were a number of reports of a mysterious flying disc (spaceship) landing in Roswell, New Mexico. At first reports were denied by the U.S. military, then a report appeared which stated they had been lucky enough to obtain one of the DISCS which was later denied. The debate whether an alien spacecraft actually landed in Roswell, New Mexico, still continues today with many believing it was a government cover up.

1954 Guatemala US Backed Operation

1954 : The US backed Castillo Armas takes over as leader of Guatemala from the communist leader President Jacobo Arbenz Guzman , and was considered a successful covert operation against international communism by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

1960 Soviet Union Francis Gary Powers Charged

1960 : The US Pilot of a U-2 Spy Plane Francis Gary Powers is charged with espionage in a Soviet Union court. In August he was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison but two years later he was exchanged for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel.

1965 England Ronald Biggs Escapes

1965 : Ronald Biggs one of the Great Train Robbers serving a 30 year jail sentence for the the robbery in 1963 escapes from Wandsworth prison. Ronnie Biggs went to Brazil where authorities could not extradite him, but came back to Britain in 2001 and was immediately taken to a top-security prison to serve the remaining 28 years of his sentence.

1966 Teamsters Union James R Hoffa

1966 : The Teamsters Union elects James R Hoffa for a further 5 years as president of the union despite the possibility that he will be in jail before the end of his term of office.

1971 Northern Ireland Rioting

1971 : The rioting is continuing in Londonderry with the latest rioting increasing following the use of nail bombs by rioters causing the British army to use live ammunition and firing on rioters and killing two.

1987 U.S.A. Oliver North

1987 : Oliver North has broken 10 months of silence concerning the Iran-Contra affair when he testified before the house senate committee investigating the Iran Arms Sale, that all his orders came from senior members of the white house staff including orders to shred documents and to prepare false statements.

1987 Sikh terrorist attacks

1987 : Following Sikh terrorist attacks on Hindu bus passengers which left 72 dead, the Indian army has banned public meetings hoping to stop the backlash by Hindu's on Sikh's in the city of Chandigarh.

1996 England School Machete Attack

1996 : A man wielding a machete attacks 3 very young children (3 and 4 yrs old) and 4 parents and staff at a kindergarten in Wolverhampton.

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