July 12th Major News Events

1967 U.S.A. Airline Strike

1967 : The strike by workers in the airline industry continues to effect 5 major airlines with little hope seen of an early settlement and some airlines are now laying workers off including Eastern Airlines.

1986 Northern Ireland Continued Violence

1986 : Portadown, County Armagh: The Orange Parade by Orangemen have caused problems to flare up in Portadown, County Armagh. Catholic Nationalist and Protestant Loyalist youths are fighting on the streets throwing bottles, darts and bricks at each other and the security forces. There are also a number of looting of shops and businesses in the area and the army has been using baton charges and plastic bullets to bring peace back to the area. Ballymoney, Northern Ireland: A loyalist attack on a Catholic family has left three children dead after an arson attack on the home in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland.

1987 New York Land Prices

1987 : As more and more areas of land are sold for development of new out of town shopping Malls many can not believe how much the price of land has changed in Syracuse New York, just 10 years ago an acre of land was a mere $2,000 per acre and now it commands up to $100,000 per acre.

1987 England Church Criticized

1987 : The Church of England has been criticized for it's investments in South Africa due to the countries Apartheid Policies , but they have refused to stop investing in South African companies and land.

1990 Russia Mikhail Gorbachev

1990 : After the election of Mikhail Gorbachev as head of the Soviet Communist Party, Boris Yeltsin, president of the Republic of Russia, announces his resignation from the Soviet Communist Party. This was a blow to Gorbachev who was hoping to keep all parts and factions of the Communist party working together.

1993 Japan Tsunami Okushiri

1993 : Following an earthquake estimated at 7.8 which generated giant waves a tsunami left roughly 200 people dead on the island of Okushiri in Japan.

1995 Heat Wave Wisconsin and Illinois kills 1,000

1995 : A heat wave that effects Illinois and Wisconsin starts when a heat advisory is issued in Chicago, Illinois, warning of an impending record-breaking heat wave. By the time the heat wave ends one week later, nearly 2,000 people are dead in Illinois and Wisconsin with temperatures being recorded in Chicago up to 106 degrees Fahrenheit.

1999 Europe Beef Import Ban

1999 : Following a ban by the European Union on all Beef Imports from the US over the widespread use of growth hormones which the EU believes could cause increased cancer, nerve disorders and other health problems. The US has placed trade sanctions worth $116m on EU Goods. All European Union farmers are banned from giving hormones to cattle because of health fears. Many believe this could spread to an all trade war between Europe and America as GM crop imports are also restricted due to concerns over possible health issues. As of 2008 the European Union still has a ban on beef raised with the use of hormones, which bars most U.S. beef imports. They also now have a ban on US pork produced with a growth hormone and poultry treated with chlorine and other chemicals. Europe is still also refusing to accept imports of any unauthorized GM crops which again effects imports / exports between the EU and the US.

2006 South Korea / US Trade Talks

2006 : Nearly 30,000 protesters rioted in Seoul as the United States and South Korea held the third day of talks with the purpose of reducing trade barriers between the two countries. Despite some clashes between police and protesters no one was arrested or injured during the demonstration.

2007 U.S.A. Lady Bird Johnson Dies

2007 : Former First Lady, Claudia Alta Taylor Johnson, better known as Lady Bird Johnson passed away at the age of 94 on this day. Best known for her environmentalism, Johnson was also a strong supporter of civil rights and combating poverty.

2008 Iran / Israel Missile Testing

2008 : The Tension between Iran and Israel is increasing as Iran shows the strength of it's resolve both in words and saber rattling this week as Iran tests more missiles and tells the world if Israel attacks it will strike Tel Aviv and US Military bases . Meanwhile Israel is committed to stopping Iran gaining Nuclear weapons capability in any way and any how with the Israel defense minister talking about Israel's readiness to strike Iran. The possibility of a win by presidential nominee Barack Obama who has pledged to pursue diplomacy routes rather than confrontation with Iran and who may not provide Israel with US backing for an attack on Iran leaves many including Iran concerned that the window of opportunity for Israel to attack Iran with US backing is slipping away as it is thought the current Bush administration would provide the backing Israel needs.

2008 U.S.A. IndyMac Bank Collapse

2008 : The IndyMac Bank, based in California, failed on this day. The bank became the fifth to fail in the United States in 2008, and became one of the largest financial institutions to fail in United States history.

2011 Funeral Held for Former First Lady Betty Ford

2011 : The funeral for former first lady Betty Ford was held after her death at the age of ninety-three. In attendance were current first lady Michelle Obama, former first ladies Nancy Reagan and Rosalynn Carter, former president George W. Bush, and Secretary of State and former first lady Hilary Clinton. Betty Ford had been known for her outspoken and honest manner on issues such as women's rights, as well as work on drug and alcohol treatment.

2012 Saudi Arabia to Send Two Female Athletes to Olympics

2012 : The International Olympic Committee has confirmed that Saudi Arabia would send two female athletes, Sarah Attar for the women's 800m and Wodjan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani for judo, to the London 2012 Summer Games. The inclusion of Saudi women in the games would mark the first time in the history of the games that there would be a female athlete from every competing country. Female athletes from Brunei and Qatar would also be entering the games for the first time.

2013 Ireland Approves Abortion

2013 : Ireland's lower house in parliament voted in favor of legalizing abortion in cases where it would save the life of the mother. This is the first time the Irish government has voted in favor of any type of abortion.