Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1950, Pervez Hoodbhoy, Pakistani physicist and academic was born. In 1973, Varig Flight 820 crashes near Paris on approach to Orly Airport, killing 123 of the 134 on board. In response, the FAA bans smoking in airplane lavatories. In 1978, Los Alfaques disaster: A truck carrying liquid gas crashes and explodes at a coastal campsite in Tarragona, Spain killing 216 tourists. In 1980, Kevin Powers, American soldier and author was born. In 1989, Shimanoumi Koyo, Japanese sumo wrestler was born. In 1990, Oka Crisis: First Nations land dispute in Quebec begins. In 2003, Zahra Kazemi, Iranian-Canadian freelance photographer (born 1948) passed away. In 2006, Mumbai train bombings: 209 people are killed in a series of bomb attacks in Mumbai, India. In 2010, The Islamist militia group Al-Shabaab carries out multiple suicide bombings in Kampala, Uganda, killing 74 people and injuring 85 others. In 2011, Ninety-eight containers of explosives self-detonate killing 13 people in Zygi, Cyprus. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.