In History, Today on July 12

Richard Branson flew to the edge of space aboard Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity, marking a milestone in commercial space travel.

The United States House of Representatives voted to limit President Donald Trump's ability to take military action against Iran without congressional approval.

The last of the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach were rescued from the Tham Luang cave in Thailand after being trapped for over two weeks.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines in a case against China over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Typhoon Rammasun, the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2014, makes landfall, causing widespread damage.

Malala Yousafzai gave a speech at the United Nations advocating for worldwide access to education, marking her 16th birthday as 'Malala Day.'

The Shard, the tallest building in Europe at the time, was officially inaugurated with a laser light show in London.

Hezbollah launched a cross-border raid into Israel, capturing two Israeli soldiers, which led to the 2006 Lebanon War.

France won the 1998 FIFA World Cup, defeating Brazil 3-0 in the final held at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, marking their first World Cup victory.

The Srebrenica Massacre occurred during the Bosnian War, where approximately 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed by units of the Army of Republika Srpska.

The Gilbert Islands, a former British colony, became the independent nation of Kiribati.

São Tomé and Príncipe gained independence from Portugal, becoming an independent nation.

The Rolling Stones performed their first concert at the Marquee Club in London. This event marked the beginning of their career as one of the most influential rock bands in history.

Palestinian authorities staged a general strike, closing shops and public services in protest against the UN plan to partition Palestine and the declaration of the state of Israel.

The Battle of Prokhorovka, one of the largest tank battles in history, took place during the larger Battle of Kursk in World War II.

The Soviet–Lithuanian Peace Treaty was signed, which recognized Lithuanian independence from Soviet Russia.

Alfred Dreyfus, a French Jewish army officer, was finally exonerated after a prolonged legal battle marked by anti-Semitic undertones in the infamous Dreyfus Affair.

The Franco-Prussian War commenced with Napoleon III of France declaring war on Prussia.

The steamship SS Great Britain, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, is launched, marking a milestone in engineering and ship design.

American forces under General William Hull cross the Detroit River and invade Canada, initiating the Detroit Campaign of the War of 1812.

The Confederation of the Rhine was established under the influence of Napoleon Bonaparte, effectively dissolving the Holy Roman Empire.

Former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton died after being shot in a duel with Vice President Aaron Burr the previous day. This event marked the end of Hamilton's influential political career and had significant repercussions in American politics.

The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was passed in France. This legislation, enacted during the French Revolution, aimed to restructure the Catholic Church in France, bringing it under state control and leading to significant tensions between the state and the church.

Captain James Cook began his third voyage around the world. This journey, which ultimately led to his tragic demise, was primarily aimed at discovering the Northwest Passage and further emphasized the importance of exploration in the age of European global voyages.

The Battle of the Boyne took place near Drogheda on the east coast of Ireland. It was a significant battle in the Williamite War in Ireland, where Protestant King William III defeated the deposed Catholic King James II, ensuring Protestant ascendancy in Ireland.

Fray Diego de Landa, a Spanish Franciscan priest, ordered the burning of Maya codices and idols in Maní, Yucatán, an event that led to the loss of much of the Mayan written history.

King Henry VIII of England married his sixth and final wife, Catherine Parr. Catherine played a key role in reconciling Henry with his daughters and was influential in the education of Elizabeth I.

Edward I of England issues the Edict of Expulsion, expelling all Jews from England.

The city of Acre fell to the Crusaders during the Third Crusade after a prolonged siege. This victory was a significant turning point in the Crusade, allowing the Crusaders to establish a foothold in the Holy Land.

The Treaty of Bonn was signed, marking the end of a conflict between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland. This treaty was significant as it established a period of peace and cooperation between the two kingdoms.