Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1789, In response to the dismissal of the French finance minister Jacques Necker, the radical journalist Camille Desmoulins gives a speech which results in the storming of the Bastille two days later. In 1790, The Civil Constitution of the Clergy is passed in France by the National Constituent Assembly. In 1900, Marcel Paul, French communist politician and Holocaust survivor (died 1982) was born. In 1920, The Soviet-Lithuanian Peace Treaty is signed, by which Soviet Russia recognizes the independence of Lithuania. 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 1952, Irina Bokova, Bulgarian politician, Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs was born. In 1969, Chantal Jouanno, French politician, French Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports was born. In 1997, François Furet, French historian and author (born 1927) passed away. In 2001, Space Shuttle program: Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on mission STS-104, carrying the Quest Joint Airlock to the International Space Station. In 2006, The 2006 Lebanon War begins. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.