Today in News History

On July 4, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1817, In Rome, New York, construction on the Erie Canal begins. In 1897, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Indian activist (died 1924) was born. In 1942, World War II: The 250-day Siege of Sevastopol in the Crimea ends when the city falls to Axis forces. In 1947, The "Indian Independence Bill" is presented before the British House of Commons, proposing the independence of the Provinces of British India into two sovereign countries: India and Pakistan. In 1954, Food rationing in Great Britain ends, with the lifting of restrictions on sale and purchase of meat, 14 years after it began early in World War II, and nearly a decade after the war's end. In 1963, Pingali Venkayya, Indian activist, designed the Flag of India (born 1876) passed away. In 1976, Israeli commandos raid Entebbe airport in Uganda, rescuing all but four of the passengers and crew of an Air France jetliner seized by Palestinian terrorists. In 1983, Amol Rajan, Indian-English journalist was born. In 2002, A Boeing 707 crashes near Bangui M'Poko International Airport in Bangui, Central African Republic, killing 28. In 2006, Space Shuttle program: Discovery launches STS-121 to the International Space Station. The event gained wide media attention as it was the only shuttle launch in the program's history to occur on the United States' Independence Day. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.