Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1789, Jacques Necker is dismissed as France's Finance Minister sparking the Storming of the Bastille. In 1919, The eight-hour day and free Sunday become law for workers in the Netherlands. In 1943, World War II: Allied invasion of Sicily: German and Italian troops launch a counter-attack on Allied forces in Sicily. In 1950, Pakistan joins the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank. In 1960, Congo Crisis: The State of Katanga breaks away from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1969, Ned Boulting, British sports journalist and television presenter 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 1974, Hermann Hreiðarsson, Icelandic footballer and manager was born. In 1978, Los Alfaques disaster: A truck carrying liquid gas crashes and explodes at a coastal campsite in Tarragona, Spain killing 216 tourists. In 1990, Oka Crisis: First Nations land dispute in Quebec begins. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.