Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 911, Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple and Rollo of Normandy. In 1302, Battle of the Golden Spurs (Guldensporenslag in Dutch): A coalition around the Flemish cities defeats the king of France's royal army. In 1616, Samuel de Champlain returns to Quebec. In 1723, Jean-François Marmontel, French historian and author (died 1799) was born. In 1789, Jacques Necker is dismissed as France's Finance Minister sparking the Storming of the Bastille. In 1846, Léon Bloy, French author and poet (died 1917) 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 1988, Étienne Capoue, French footballer was born. In 1990, Oka Crisis: First Nations land dispute in Quebec begins. In 2004, Renée Saint-Cyr, French actress and producer (born 1904) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.