Today in News History

On July 8, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 900, Qatr al-Nada, wife of the Abbasid caliph al-Mu'tadid passed away. In 1857, Alfred Binet, French psychologist and graphologist (died 1911) was born. In 1898, The death of crime boss Soapy Smith, killed in the Shootout on Juneau Wharf, releases Skagway, Alaska from his iron grip. In 1920, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, Danish businessman (died 1995) was born. In 1921, John Money, New Zealand psychologist and sexologist, known for his research on gender identity, and responsible for controversial involuntary sex reassignment of David Reimer (died 2006) was born. In 1938, Diane Clare, English actress (died 2013) was born. In 1939, Havelock Ellis, English psychologist and author (born 1859) passed away. In 1972, Israeli Mossad assassinate Palestinian writer Ghassan Kanafani. 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. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.