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 1864, American Civil War: The Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road begins. In 1866, Matt Kilroy, American baseball player (died 1940) was born. In 1913, Madihe Pannaseeha Thero, Sri Lankan monk and scholar (died 2003) was born. In 1931, David Kushnir, Israeli Olympic long-jumper (died 2020) was born. In 1940, World War II: Italy begins an unsuccessful invasion of France. 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 1986, Assi Rahbani, Lebanese singer-songwriter and producer (born 1923) passed away. In 2001, A federal grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, indicts 13 Saudis and a Lebanese in the 1996 bombing of the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia that killed 19 American servicemen. In 2012, Sunil Janah, Indian photographer and journalist (born 1918) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.