Today in News History

On June 19, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1864, Sarah Rosetta Wakeman, American soldier (born 1843) passed away. In 1907, Clarence Wiseman, Canadian 10th General of the Salvation Army (died 1985) was born. In 1917, Joshua Nkomo, Zimbabwean guerrilla leader and politician, Vice President of Zimbabwe (died 1999) was born. In 1947, Pan Am Flight 121 crashes in the Syrian Desert near Mayadin, Syria, killing 15 and injuring 21. In 1957, Subcomandante Marcos, Mexican insurgent and EZLN leader was born. In 1987, Basque separatist group ETA commits one of its most violent attacks, in which a bomb is set off in a supermarket, Hipercor, killing 21 and injuring 45. In 1988, Pope John Paul II canonizes 117 Vietnamese Martyrs. In 2007, The al-Khilani Mosque bombing in Baghdad leaves 78 people dead and another 218 injured. In 2009, Mass riots involving over 10,000 people and 10,000 police officers break out in Shishou, China, over the dubious circumstances surrounding the death of a local chef. In 2009, War in North-West Pakistan: The Pakistani Armed Forces open Operation Rah-e-Nijat against the Taliban and other Islamist rebels in the South Waziristan area of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.