Today in News History

On June 21, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 533, A Byzantine expeditionary fleet under Belisarios sails from Constantinople to attack the Vandals in Africa, via Greece and Sicily. In 1630, Samuel Oppenheimer, German Jewish banker and diplomat (died 1703) was born. In 1824, Greek War of Independence: Egyptian forces capture Psara in the Aegean Sea. In 1864, American Civil War: The Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road begins. In 1940, World War II: Italy begins an unsuccessful invasion of France. In 1942, World War II: A Japanese submarine surfaces near the Columbia River in Oregon, firing 17 shells at Fort Stevens in one of only a handful of attacks by Japan against the United States mainland. In 1942, World War II: Tobruk falls to Italian and German forces; 33,000 Allied troops are taken prisoner. In 1945, World War II: The Battle of Okinawa ends when the organized resistance of Imperial Japanese Army forces collapses in the Mabuni area on the southern tip of the main island. In 1985, Braathens SAFE Flight 139 is hijacked on approach to Oslo Airport, Fornebu. Special forces arrest the hijacker and there are no fatalities. In 2001, Soad Hosny, Egyptian actress and singer (born 1942) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.