Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1562, Fray Diego de Landa, acting Bishop of Yucatán, burns the sacred idols and books of the Maya. In 1691, Battle of Aughrim (Julian calendar): The decisive victory of William III of England's forces in Ireland. In 1928, Alastair Burnet, English journalist (died 2012) was born. In 1949, Douglas Hyde, Irish scholar and politician, 1st President of Ireland (born 1860) passed away. In 1959, David Brown, Australian meteorologist was born. In 1961, Indian city Pune floods due to failure of the Khadakwasla and Panshet dams, killing at least two thousand people. In 1973, A fire destroys the entire sixth floor of the National Personnel Records Center of the United States. In 1979, The island nation of Kiribati becomes independent from the United Kingdom. In 1995, Chinese seismologists successfully predict the 1995 Myanmar-China earthquake, reducing the number of casualties to 11. In 1998, The Ulster Volunteer Force attacked a house in Ballymoney, County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a petrol bomb, killing the Quinn brothers. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.