Today in News History

On June 23, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1305, A peace treaty between the Flemish and the French is signed at Athis-sur-Orge. In 1314, First War of Scottish Independence: The Battle of Bannockburn (south of Stirling) begins. In 1594, The Action of Faial, Azores. The Portuguese carrack Cinco Chagas, loaded with slaves and treasure, is attacked and sunk by English ships with only 13 survivors out of over 700 on board. In 1919, Estonian War of Independence: The decisive defeat of the Baltische Landeswehr in the Battle of Cēsis; this date is celebrated as Victory Day in Estonia. In 1930, Marie-Thérèse Houphouët-Boigny, former First Lady of Ivory Coast was born. In 1937, Martti Ahtisaari, Finnish captain and politician, 10th President of Finland, Nobel Prize laureate (died 2023) was born. In 1942, World War II: Germany's latest fighter aircraft, a Focke-Wulf Fw 190, is captured intact when it mistakenly lands at RAF Pembrey in Wales. In 1956, The French National Assembly takes the first step in creating the French Community by passing the Loi Cadre, transferring a number of powers from Paris to elected territorial governments in French West Africa. In 1973, A fire at a house in Hull, England, which kills a six-year-old boy is passed off as an accident; it later emerges as the first of 26 deaths by fire caused over the next seven years by serial arsonist Peter Dinsdale. In 2018, Twelve boys and an assistant coach from a soccer team in Thailand are trapped in a flooding cave, leading to an 18-day rescue operation. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.