Today in News History

On June 19, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1917, Joshua Nkomo, Zimbabwean guerrilla leader and politician, Vice President of Zimbabwe (died 1999) was born. In 1947, Pan Am Flight 121 crashes in the Syrian Desert near Mayadin, Syria, killing 15 and injuring 21. In 1951, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Egyptian terrorist (died 2022) was born. In 1957, Subcomandante Marcos, Mexican insurgent and EZLN leader was born. In 1977, Ali Shariati, Iranian sociologist and philosopher (born 1933) passed away. In 1981, Mohammed Al-Khuwalidi, Saudi Arabian long jumper was born. In 1985, Members of the Revolutionary Party of Central American Workers, dressed as Salvadoran soldiers, attack the Zona Rosa area of San Salvador. In 1987, Basque separatist group ETA commits one of its most violent attacks, in which a bomb is set off in a supermarket, Hipercor, killing 21 and injuring 45. In 2007, Ze'ev Schiff, Israeli journalist and author (born 1932) passed away. In 2009, War in North-West Pakistan: The Pakistani Armed Forces open Operation Rah-e-Nijat against the Taliban and other Islamist rebels in the South Waziristan area of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.