Today in News History

On July 4, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1886, The Canadian Pacific Railway's first scheduled train from Montreal arrives in Port Moody on the Pacific coast, after six days of travel. In 1892, Western Samoa changes the International Date Line, causing Monday (July 4) to occur twice, resulting in a leap year with 367 days. In 1896, Mao Dun, Chinese journalist, author, and critic (died 1981) was born. In 1921, Metropolitan Mikhail of Asyut (died 2014) was born. In 1942, World War II: The 250-day Siege of Sevastopol in the Crimea ends when the city falls to Axis forces. In 1950, Cold War: Radio Free Europe first broadcasts. In 1954, Food rationing in Great Britain ends, with the lifting of restrictions on sale and purchase of meat, 14 years after it began early in World War II, and nearly a decade after the war's end. In 1982, Three Iranian diplomats and a journalist are kidnapped in Lebanon by Phalange forces, and their fate remains unknown. In 1983, Amol Rajan, Indian-English journalist was born. In 1998, Japan launches the Nozomi probe to Mars, joining the United States and Russia as a space exploring nation. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.