Today in News History

On July 7, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1911, The United States, UK, Japan, and Russia sign the North Pacific Fur Seal Convention of 1911 banning open-water seal hunting, the first international treaty to address wildlife preservation issues. In 1918, Jing Shuping, Chinese businessman (died 2009) was born. In 1937, The Marco Polo Bridge Incident (Lugou Bridge) provides the Imperial Japanese Army with a pretext for starting the Second Sino-Japanese War (China-Japan War). In 1937, Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong businessman and politician, 1st Chief Executive of Hong Kong was born. In 1944, World War II: Largest Banzai charge of the Pacific War at the Battle of Saipan. In 1963, Buddhist crisis: Police commanded by Ngô Đình Nhu, brother and chief political adviser of South Vietnam President Ngo Dinh Diem, attacked a group of American journalists who were covering a protest. In 1980, Michelle Kwan, American figure skater was born. In 1982, Asia O'Hara, American drag performer was born. In 1983, Cold War: Samantha Smith, a US schoolgirl, flies to the Soviet Union at the invitation of Secretary General Yuri Andropov. In 2003, NASA Opportunity rover, MER-B or Mars Exploration Rover-B, was launched into space aboard a Delta II rocket. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.