Today in History: November 22, Genocide conviction in Srebenica massacre

"On Nov. 22, 2017, Ratko Mladic, the Bosnian Serb general whose forces carried out the Srebrenica massacre of 1995 the worst massacre in Europe since World War II was convicted of genocide and other crimes by the United Nations' Yugoslav war crimes tribunal and sentenced to life behind bars. Also on this date: In 1718, English pirate Edward Teach better known as Blackbeard was killed during a battle with British naval forces near Ocracoke Island in North Carolina."

"In 1935, a flying boat, the China Clipper, took off from Alameda, California, carrying more than 100,000 pieces of mail on the first trans-Pacific airmail flight. In 1963, John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, was shot to death during a motorcade in Dallas; Texas Gov. John B. Connally, riding in the same car as Kennedy, was seriously wounded. Suspected gunman Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president."

"In 1986, 20-year-old Mike Tyson became the youngest heavyweight boxing champion in history, stopping WBC titleholder Trevor Berbick in the second round of their championship bout in Las Vegas. In 1990, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, having failed to win reelection to the Conservative Party leadership on the first ballot, announced she would resign. In 2005, Angela Merkel took office as Germany's first female chancellor."

November 22 encompasses diverse historical events spanning centuries. In 1718, pirate Edward Teach, known as Blackbeard, was killed near Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. In 1935, the China Clipper departed Alameda with over 100,000 pieces of mail on the first trans-Pacific airmail flight. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas; Governor John B. Connally was seriously wounded, Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested, and Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president. In 1986, Mike Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion. In 1990, Margaret Thatcher announced her resignation. In 2005, Angela Merkel became Germany's first female chancellor. Large-scale tragedies in 2010 and 2022 caused many deaths.

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