Today in News History

On July 8, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1905, Leonid Amalrik, Russian animator and director (died 1997) was born. In 1918, Irwin Hasen, American illustrator (died 2015) was born. In 1935, Steve Lawrence, American actor and singer (died 2024) was born. In 1962, Ne Win besieges and blows up the Rangoon University Student Union building to crush the Student Movement. In 1965, Canadian Pacific Air Lines Flight 21 is destroyed by a bomb near 100 Mile House, Canada, killing 52. In 1982, A failed assassination attempt against Iraqi president Saddam Hussein results in the Dujail Massacre over the next several months. In 1994, Kim Jong Il begins to assume supreme leadership of North Korea upon the death of his father, Kim Il Sung. In 2002, Ward Kimball, American animator and trombonist (born 1914) passed away. In 2011, Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched in the final mission of the U.S. Space Shuttle program. In 2014, Israel launches an offensive on Gaza amid rising tensions following the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.