Timeline July 2007

Events in July 2007 15

• 3000 BC – 2007 Wonders of the World From the Great Pyramid to the New Seven Wonders A journey through the greatest structures ever built by human hands, from the Great Pyramid of Giza — the only ancient wonder still standing — to the New Seven Wonders chosen by a global vote in 2007. The original list of Seven Wonders was compiled by the Greek writer Philo of Byzantium around 225 BC, celebrating the most extraordinary achievements of the ancient Mediterranean world. Most were destroyed by earthquakes, fire or human hands. The New Seven Wonders span four continents and over 4,500 years of human civilisation, joined here by honourable mentions that rival any of them in scale and mystery.
• 2007 Wimbledon 2007 Men: Roger Federer · Women: Venus Williams Federer's fifth consecutive title. Venus' 4th title.
• 2007 Transformers #2 film of 2007 — $709m worldwide Directed by Michael Bay, starring Shia LaBeouf. Two groups of robots wage war on Earth, with a teenager caught in the middle.
• 2007 Live Earth benefit concerts Series of concerts held on all seven continents Al Gore helped organize a series of benefit concerts across the world, including a flagship show at Giants Stadium in New Jersey, to raise awareness of climate change. The event drew large audiences and broad media coverage.
• 2007 New Seven Wonders Announced Over 100 million votes cast worldwide The results of a global poll organised by the New7Wonders Foundation were announced in Lisbon, Portugal, naming seven New Wonders of the World: the Great Wall of China, Petra, the Colosseum, Chichen Itza, Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal and Christ the Redeemer. Over 100 million votes were cast by internet and text message. The Great Pyramid of Giza was granted honorary status as the only surviving original wonder.
• 2007 Pope Benedict XVI issues Summorum Pontificum Eases restrictions on the traditional Latin Mass Pope Benedict XVI issued a decree broadening permission for priests to celebrate Mass using the pre-1970 Roman Missal without special approval from local bishops. The move was welcomed by traditionalist Catholics and debated within the wider Church.
• 2007 China executes former food and drug safety chief Zheng Xiaoyu convicted of taking bribes Zheng Xiaoyu, former head of China's State Food and Drug Administration, was executed after being convicted of accepting bribes to approve substandard medicines. The case followed a series of scandals over Chinese product and food safety.
• 2007 Lady Bird Johnson (1912-2007) Died 11 July 2007, aged 94 Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson, widow of US President Lyndon B. Johnson and a former First Lady known for her highway beautification campaign, died at her Texas ranch. She had also managed a media business empire in her own right.
• 2007 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix #3 film of 2007 — $942m worldwide Directed by David Yates. Harry forms a secret group to battle Voldemort after the Ministry of Magic refuses to believe he has returned.
• 2007 Peter Gabriel helps found The Elders With Nelson Mandela A group of world leaders working for peace.
• 2007 Tammy Faye Messner (1942-2007) Died 20 July 2007, aged 65 American televangelist and television personality Tammy Faye Messner, formerly Tammy Faye Bakker, died in Kansas after a long battle with cancer. She had become a co-host of the PTL Club before its collapse in a financial scandal in the 1980s.
• 2007 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows published Final novel in J.K. Rowling's series The seventh and final Harry Potter novel sold more than 11 million copies in its first 24 hours across several countries. It concluded the series that had begun ten years earlier.
• 2007 Bill Walsh (1931-2007) Died 30 July 2007, aged 75 American football coach Bill Walsh, who led the San Francisco 49ers to three Super Bowl titles and pioneered the "West Coast offense," died in California after a battle with leukemia. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential coaches in NFL history.
• 2007 Ingmar Bergman (1918-2007) Died 30 July 2007, aged 89 Swedish film and theatre director Ingmar Bergman, known for films including The Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries, died at his home on the island of Fårö. He is regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers in cinema history.
• 2007 Michelangelo Antonioni (1912-2007) Died 30 July 2007, aged 94 Italian film director Michelangelo Antonioni, best known for Blow-Up and L'Avventura, died on the same day as fellow director Ingmar Bergman. His work was noted for its slow pacing and themes of alienation.