Today in News History

On June 19, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 860, Byzantine-Rus' War: A fleet of about 200 Rus' vessels sails into the Bosphorus and starts pillaging the suburbs of the Byzantine capital Constantinople. In 1900, Vlasta Vraz, Czech-American relief worker, editor, and fundraiser (died 1989) was born. In 1915, Red Adair, American firefighter (died 2004) was born. In 1953, A United States Air Force C-124 crashes and burns near Tachikawa, Japan, killing 129. In 1954, Carlos Castillo Armas leads an invasion force across the Guatemalan border, setting in motion the 1954 Guatemalan coup d'état. In 1984, A major clash between about 5,000 police and a similar number of striking miners takes place at Orgreave, South Yorkshire, during the 1984-85 UK miners' strike. In 1994, The Troubles: Members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) attack a crowded pub with assault rifles in Loughinisland, Northern Ireland. Six Catholic civilians are killed and five wounded. It was crowded with people watching the 1994 FIFA World Cup. In 1998, Propair Flight 420 crashes near Montréal-Mirabel International Airport in Quebec, Canada, killing 11. In 2007, The Charleston Sofa Super Store fire happened in Charleston, South Carolina, killing nine firefighters. In 2018, An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 strikes northern Osaka. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.