Today in News History

On June 26, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1917, World War I: The American Expeditionary Forces begin to arrive in France. They will first enter combat in the Battle of Hamel on July 4. In 1940, World War II: Under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, the Soviet Union presents an ultimatum to Romania requiring it to cede Bessarabia and the northern part of Bukovina. In 1941, World War II: Soviet planes bomb Kassa, Hungary (now Košice, Slovakia), giving Hungary the impetus to declare war the next day. In 1948, Cold War: The first supply flights are made in response to the Berlin Blockade. In 1963, Cold War: U.S. President John F. Kennedy gave his "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech, underlining the support of the United States for democratic West Germany shortly after Soviet-supported East Germany erected the Berlin Wall. In 1968, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, Icelandic lecturer and politician, 6th President of Iceland was born. In 1976, Ed Jovanovski, Canadian ice hockey player was born. In 1990, Anni Blomqvist, Finnish author (born 1909) passed away. In 2000, The Human Genome Project announces the completion of a "rough draft" sequence. In 2012, Sverker Åström, Swedish diplomat, Swedish Permanent Representative to the United Nations (born 1915) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.