Historical timeline for July 1

At the centennial ceremony of the Dominion of Newfoundland National War Memorial, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission allowed an unprecedented second Canadian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Royal Newfoundland Regiment soldier was entombed in the memorial at this ceremony.

The United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement replaces NAFTA.

Croatia becomes the 28th member of the European Union.

Riots erupt in Mongolia in response to allegations of fraud surrounding the 2008 legislative elections.

Smoking in England is banned in all public indoor spaces.

The first operation of Qinghai–Tibet Railway is conducted in China.

Saturn orbit insertion of Cassini–Huygens begins at 01:12 UTC and ends at 02:48 UTC.

Over 500,000 people protest against efforts to pass anti-sedition legislation in Hong Kong.

Bashkirian Airlines Flight 2937, a Tupolev Tu-154, and DHL Flight 611, a Boeing 757, collide in mid-air over Überlingen, southern Germany, killing all 71 on board both planes.

The International Criminal Court is established to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.

The Scottish Parliament is officially opened by Elizabeth II on the day that legislative powers are officially transferred from the old Scottish Office in London to the new devolved Scottish Executive in Edinburgh. In Wales, the powers of the Welsh Secretary are transferred to the National Assembly.

China resumes sovereignty over the city-state of Hong Kong, ending 156 years of British colonial rule. The handover ceremony is attended by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Charles, Prince of Wales, Chinese President Jiang Zemin and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Space Shuttle program: Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on STS-94, a re-flight of the prematurely-ended STS-83 mission with the same crew.

Cold War: The Warsaw Pact is officially dissolved at a meeting in Prague.

The Finnish operator Radiolinja is launched as the world's first GSM network.

German reunification: East Germany accepts the Deutsche Mark as its currency, thus uniting the economies of East and West Germany.

The American radio station WFAN in New York City is launched as the world's first all-sports radio station.

The PG-13 rating is introduced by the MPAA.

A North Korean Ilyushin Il-62M jet en route to Conakry Airport in Guinea crashes into the Fouta Djallon mountains in Guinea-Bissau, killing all 23 people on board.

The Ministry of State Security is established as China's principal intelligence agency