Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1862, The Medal of Honor is authorized by the United States Congress. In 1913, Serbian forces begin their siege of the Bulgarian city of Vidin; the siege is later called off when the war ends. In 1916, Lyudmila Pavlichenko, Ukrainian-Russian soldier and sniper (died 1974) was born. 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 1991, Salih Dursun, Turkish footballer was born. In 2007, U.S. Army Apache helicopters engage in airstrikes against armed insurgents in Baghdad, Iraq, where civilians are killed; footage from the cockpit is later leaked to the Internet. In 2012, Syrian Civil War: Government forces target the homes of rebels and activists in Tremseh and kill anywhere between 68 and 150 people. In 2012, Hamid Samandarian, Iranian director and playwright (born 1931) passed away. In 2014, Valeriya Novodvorskaya, Russian journalist and politician (born 1950) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.