Today in News History

On June 26, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1723, After a siege and bombardment by cannon, Baku surrenders to the Russians. In 1794, French Revolutionary Wars: Battle of Fleurus marks the first successful military use of aircraft and turns the tide of the War of the First Coalition. 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 1941, World War II: Soviet planes bomb Kassa, Hungary (now Košice, Slovakia), giving Hungary the impetus to declare war the next day. In 1945, The United Nations Charter is signed by 50 Allied nations in San Francisco, California. 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 1981, Dan-Air Flight 240, flying to East Midlands Airport, crashes in Nailstone, Leicestershire. All three crew members perish. In 2006, Mari Alkatiri, the first Prime Minister of East Timor, resigns after weeks of political unrest. 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.