Today in News History

On June 21, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. 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 1919, The Royal Canadian Mounted Police fire a volley into a crowd of unemployed war veterans, killing two, during the Winnipeg general strike. In 1919, Antonia Mesina, Italian martyr and saint (died 1935) was born. In 1931, David Kushnir, Israeli Olympic long-jumper (died 2020) was born. 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 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, An Indonesian Air Force Fokker F27 Friendship crashes near Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport, killing 11. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.