Today in News History

On July 8, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1864, Ikedaya Incident: The Choshu Han shishi's planned Shinsengumi sabotage on Kyoto, Japan at Ikedaya. In 1876, The Hamburg massacre prior to the 1876 United States presidential election results in the deaths of six African-Americans of the Republican Party, along with one white assailant. In 1892, Richard Aldington, English author and poet (died 1962) was born. In 1948, Ruby Sales, American civil-rights activist was born. In 1961, Ces Drilon, Filipino journalist was born. In 1962, Ne Win besieges and blows up the Rangoon University Student Union building to crush the Student Movement. In 1982, A failed assassination attempt against Iraqi president Saddam Hussein results in the Dujail Massacre over the next several months. In 1994, Kim Il Sung, North Korean commander and politician, President of North Korea (born 1912) passed away. In 1994, Kim Jong Il begins to assume supreme leadership of North Korea upon the death of his father, Kim Il Sung. In 2012, Muhammed bin Saud Al Saud, Saudi Arabian politician (born 1934) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.