Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1543, King Henry VIII of England marries his sixth and last wife, Catherine Parr, at Hampton Court Palace. In 1576, Mughal Empire annexes Bengal after defeating the Bengal Sultanate at the Battle of Rajmahal. In 1799, Ranjit Singh conquers Lahore and becomes Maharaja of the Punjab (Sikh Empire). In 1812, The American Army of the Northwest briefly occupies the Upper Canadian settlement at what is now at Windsor, Ontario. In 1920, The Soviet-Lithuanian Peace Treaty is signed, by which Soviet Russia recognizes the independence of Lithuania. 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 2001, Space Shuttle program: Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on mission STS-104, carrying the Quest Joint Airlock to the International Space Station. 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 2008, Tony Snow, American journalist, 26th White House Press Secretary (born 1955) passed away. In 2012, A tank truck explosion kills more than 100 people in Okobie, Nigeria. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.