Today in News History

On June 21, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1864, Heinrich Wölfflin, Swiss historian and critic (died 1945) was born. In 1898, The United States captures Guam from Spain. The few warning shots fired by the U.S. naval vessels are misinterpreted as salutes by the Spanish garrison, which was unaware that the two nations were at war. In 1929, An agreement brokered by U.S. Ambassador Dwight Whitney Morrow ends the Cristero War in Mexico. In 1940, World War II: Italy begins an unsuccessful invasion of France. In 1942, World War II: A Japanese submarine surfaces near the Columbia River in Oregon, firing 17 shells at Fort Stevens in one of only a handful of attacks by Japan against the United States mainland. In 1979, Chris Pratt, American actor was born. In 1985, Braathens SAFE Flight 139 is hijacked on approach to Oslo Airport, Fornebu. Special forces arrest the hijacker and there are no fatalities. In 1992, Hussein El Shahat, Egyptian professional footballer was born. In 2012, Sunil Janah, Indian photographer and journalist (born 1918) passed away. In 2014, Walter Kieber, Austrian-Liechtenstein politician, 7th Prime Minister of Liechtenstein (born 1931) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.