Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1914, Mohammad Moin, Iranian linguist and lexicographer (died 1971) was born. In 1943, World War II: Battle of Kursk: German and Soviet forces engage in the Battle of Prokhorovka, one of the largest armored engagements of all time. In 1961, Indian city Pune floods due to failure of the Khadakwasla and Panshet dams, killing at least two thousand people. In 1967, Riots begin in Newark, New Jersey. In 1973, A fire destroys the entire sixth floor of the National Personnel Records Center of the United States. In 1995, Chinese seismologists successfully predict the 1995 Myanmar-China earthquake, reducing the number of casualties to 11. In 2007, U.S. Army Apache helicopters engage in airstrikes against armed insurgents in Baghdad, Iraq, where civilians are killed; footage from the cockpit is later leaked to the Internet. In 2012, A tank truck explosion kills more than 100 people in Okobie, Nigeria. In 2012, Hamid Samandarian, Iranian director and playwright (born 1931) passed away. In 2014, Jamil Ahmad, Pakistani author (born 1931) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.