Today in News History

On June 26, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1911, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, American golfer and basketball player (died 1956) was born. 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 1936, Benjamin Adekunle, Nigerian general (died 2014) was born. In 1941, World War II: Soviet planes bomb Kassa, Hungary (now Košice, Slovakia), giving Hungary the impetus to declare war the next day. In 1944, World War II: San Marino, a neutral state, is mistakenly bombed by the RAF based on faulty information, leading to 35 civilian deaths. 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 1979, Akwasi Afrifa, Ghanaian soldier and politician, 3rd Head of State of Ghana (born 1936) passed away. In 1991, Houssem Chemali, French footballer was born. In 2015, Five different terrorist attacks in France, Tunisia, Somalia, Kuwait, and Syria occurred on what was dubbed Bloody Friday by international media. Upwards of 750 people were either killed or injured in these uncoordinated attacks. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.