Today in News History

On June 21, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1529, French forces are driven out of northern Italy by Spain at the Battle of Landriano during the War of the League of Cognac. 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 1930, One-year conscription comes into force in France. 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 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 1947, Shirin Ebadi, Iranian lawyer, judge, and activist, Nobel Prize laureate was born. In 1985, Braathens SAFE Flight 139 is hijacked on approach to Oslo Airport, Fornebu. Special forces arrest the hijacker and there are no fatalities. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.