Summary of the Day ✨ 12 July (12/07)
On this day, multiple tragedies unfolded as a Russian plane crash killed three, a French train derailment injured 200 and killed six, Syrian government forces massacred 68-150 people in Tremseh, and a Nigerian tank truck explosion claimed over 100 lives. Meanwhile, U.S. Apache helicopters conducted deadly airstrikes in Baghdad that killed civilians, with cockpit footage later leaked to the internet, adding to the day’s grim tally of violence and loss.
Historical Events 📜
- 2024: Gazpromavia Flight 9608 crashes in Russia’s Kolomensky District near Kolomna, killing three.
- 2013: Six people are killed and 200 injured in a French passenger train derailment in Brétigny-sur-Orge.
- 2012: Syrian Civil War: Government forces target the homes of rebels and activists in Tremseh and kill anywhere between 68 and 150 people.
- 2012: A tank truck explosion kills more than 100 people in Okobie, Nigeria.
- 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.
- 2006: The 2006 Lebanon War begins.
- 2001: Space Shuttle program: Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on mission STS-104, carrying the Quest Joint Airlock to the International Space Station.
- 1998: The Ulster Volunteer Force attacked a house in Ballymoney, County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a petrol bomb, killing the Quinn brothers.
- 1998: France win their first World Cup title, defeating defending champions Brazil 3–0.
- 1995: Chinese seismologists successfully predict the 1995 Myanmar–China earthquake, reducing the number of casualties to 11.
- 1979: The island nation of Kiribati becomes independent from the United Kingdom.
- 1975: São Tomé and Príncipe declare independence from Portugal.
- 1973: A fire destroys the entire sixth floor of the National Personnel Records Center of the United States.
- 1971: The Australian Aboriginal flag is flown for the first time.
- 1967: Riots begin in Newark, New Jersey.
Famous Births 👶
- 2004: Diabé Bolumbu, French footballer
- 2002: Nico Williams, Spanish footballer
- 2001: Kaylee McKeown, Australian swimmer
- 2000: Vinícius Júnior, Brazilian footballer
- 1998: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Canadian basketball player
- 1997: Claire Chicha, French Korean singer-songwriter known by the stage name Spill Tab
- 1997: Jean-Kévin Duverne, French footballer
- 1997: Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani-English activist, Nobel Prize laureate
- 1996: Moussa Dembélé, French footballer
- 1996: Jordan Romero, American mountaineer
- 1995: Evania Pelite, Australian rugby union player
- 1995: Luke Shaw, English footballer
- 1995: Moses Simon, Nigerian footballer
- 1995: Jordyn Wieber, American gymnast
- 1994: Kanako Momota, Japanese singer-songwriter
Notable Deaths 🕊️
- 2024: Tonke Dragt, Dutch children’s writer and illustrator (born 1930)
- 2024: Bill Viola, American video and installation artist (born 1951)
- 2024: Ruth Westheimer, German-American sex therapist (born 1928)
- 2024: Evan Wright, American writer (born 1964)
- 2024: Noriko Ohara, Japanese voice actress and narrator (born 1935)
- 2020: Kelly Preston, American actress and model (born 1962)
- 2020: Wim Suurbier, Dutch football player (born 1945)
- 2019: Emily Hartridge, English YouTuber and television presenter (born 1984)
- 2018: Annabelle Neilson, English socialite (born 1969)
- 2016: Goran Hadžić, Serbian politician (born 1958)
- 2015: D’Army Bailey, American lawyer, judge, and actor (born 1941)
- 2015: Chenjerai Hove, Zimbabwean journalist, author, and poet (born 1956)
- 2015: Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, Tibetan monk and activist (born 1950)
- 2015: Cheng Siwei, Chinese engineer, economist, and politician (born 1935)
- 2014: Jamil Ahmad, Pakistani author (born 1931)
Holidays & Observances 🎉
- Christian feast day:
Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (Eastern Orthodox) - Christian feast day:
Hermagoras and Fortunatus - Christian feast day:
Jason of Thessalonica (Catholic Church) - Christian feast day:
John Gualbert - Christian feast day:
Louis Martin and Marie-Azélie Guérin - Christian feast day:
Nabor and Felix - Christian feast day:
Nathan Söderblom (Lutheran, Episcopal Church (USA)) - Christian feast day:
Veronica - Christian feast day:
Viventiolus - Christian feast day:
July 12 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) - The second day of Naadam (Mongolia)
- The Twelfth, also known as Orangemen’s Day (Northern Ireland, Scotland, Newfoundland and Labrador)