Unix Timestamp: 1024617600
Friday, June 21. 2002, 12:00:00 AM UTC

As a step toward total independence from the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland assumes control over its law enforcement, judicial affairs, and natural resources. Greenlandic becomes the official language.

Self-rule is introduced in Greenland following a 2008 referendum. //news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8111292.stm (BBC)

Militants in Delta State, Nigeria, blow up a Chevron oil pipeline leading to a cessation of production by Chevron in Nigeria. //www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087sid=aQlz1X9kMya4refer=home (Bloomberg)

The death toll in the Philippines from Typhoon Fengshen rises to at least 20 from flooding and landslides. Ten people drown after the Rifao River overflows its banks and sweeps away three houses in South Upi, Maguindanao. //news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/21/content_8414202.htm (Xinhua)

2008 Pacific typhoon season: Typhoon Fengshen in the Philippines

France and Algeria sign an agreement that could lead to French nuclear power technology being employed in Algerian reactors. //news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7467438.stm (BBC News)

NASA postpones the landing of "Atlantis" at Kennedy Space Center due to inclement weather, prolonging STS-117 for another day. NASA states that it can extend the mission until June 24 if necessary. //www.beta.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/06/21/space.shuttle.ap/index.html (CNN)

A Volna booster rocket carrying the first light sail spacecraft (a joint Russian-United States project) fails 83 seconds after its launch, destroying the spacecraft.

Elizabeth II conducts the International Fleet Review of 167 international warships in the Solent, as part of the Trafalgar 200 celebrations.

Three U.S. Navy SEALs, 16 American Special Operations Forces soldiers, and an unknown number of Taliban insurgents are killed during Operation Red Wings, a failed counter-insurgent mission in Kunar province, Afghanistan.

In Mojave, California, SpaceShipOne becomes the first privately funded spaceplane to achieve spaceflight.

The world's longest train is set up by BHP Iron Ore and is recorded going between Newman and Port Hedland in Western Australia (a distance of 275 km, or 170 miles) and the train consists of 682 loaded iron ore wagons and 8 GE AC6000CW locomotives, giving a gross weight of almost 100,000 tonnes and moves 82,262 tonnes of ore the train is long.

Section 28, a law preventing the promotion of homosexuality, is repealed by the Scottish Parliament.

Nelson Mandela announces that the African National Congress will halt negotiations with the government of South Africa following the Boipatong massacre of June 17.

An earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter Scale kills thousands in the Iranian city of Manjil.

British police arrest 250 people for celebrating the summer solstice at Stonehenge.

Prince William is born at St Mary\'s Hospital in Paddington, West London.

Prince William is born at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, West London.

Some 200,000 protesters march through the streets of San Francisco, protesting Anita Bryant's antigay remarks and the murder of Robert Hillsborough.

The Women Marines are disbanded, and the women are integrated into regular Marine Corps.

CKO (a now-defunct Canadian all news radio network) begins broadcasting.

The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization is permanently disbanded.

Bülent Ecevit, of CHP forms the new government of Turkey (40th government since the founding of the Turkish republic, but fails to receive the vote of confidence)

EAC dissolved.

American Roy Sullivan is struck by lightning for the seventh time.

16-year-old shop assistant Jayne Macdonald is murdered by the Yorkshire Ripper in Leeds, England.

Elvis Presley holds his last concert at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis.

The 1977 Rugby League World Cup culminates in Australia's 13 – 12 victory over Great Britain at the Sydney Cricket Ground before about 24,450 spectators.

Britain begins new negotiations for EEC membership in Luxembourg.

Opposition leader Arthur Calwell is shot after attending a political meeting in Mosman, Sydney, Australia.

Pope Paul VI (Giovanni Battista Montini) succeeds Pope John XXIII as the 262nd pope.

John Diefenbaker becomes Canada's 13th prime minister.

The Philippine School of Commerce, through a government act, is converted to the Philippine College of Commerce (later the Polytechnic University of the Philippines).

The Deutsche Mark becomes official currency of the future Federal Republic of Germany.

WWII: The Battle of Okinawa ends.

WWII: Vichy France and Germany sign an armistice at Compiegne, in the same wagon-lit railroad car used by Marshal Ferdinand Foch to accept the surrender of Germany in 1918.

The coalition government of Léon Blum resigns in France.

All non-Nazi parties are forbidden in Germany.

One-year conscription comes into force in France.

An agreement brokered by U.S. Ambassador Dwight Whitney Morrow ends the Cristero War in Mexico.

Spanish–American War: The United Statescaptures Guam making it the first U.S. overseas territory.

First long-distance transmission of alternating current by the Ames power plant near Telluride, Colorado, by Lucien and Paul Nunn.

The British Empire celebrates Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, marking the 50th year of her reign.//www.royal.gov.uk/output/page929.asp Royal.gov.uk

The Molly Maguires are hanged at Carbon County Prison in Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania.

American Civil War: Battle of Kennesaw Mountain near Kennesaw, Georgia.

Māori Wars: The Tauranga Caign ends.

On this date, the first condom was made by the International Condom Company (ICC).

Said Pasha succeeds his nephew Abbas as the Pasha of Egypt.

Battle of Bomarsund in the Åland Islands (which later became part of Finland - in 1920:) The Royal Navy seaman's mate Charles D. Lucas throws a live Russian artillery shell overboard by hand before it explodes, for which he was awarded the first Victoria Cross in 1857.

In Jackson, Michigan, the first convention of the U.S. Republican Party is held.

The Colony of Victoria separates from New South Wales.

Serial poisoner Hélène Jégado is arrested in Rennes, France.

Peninsular War ndash Battle of Vitoria: A British, Spanish, and Portuguese force of 78,000 with 96 guns under Wellington defeats a French force of 58,000 with 153 guns under Joseph Bonaparte.

New Hshire ratifies the United States Constitution and becomes the ninth U.S. state, enabling the Constitution to go into effect. (The latter happens on March 4, 1789, when the first Congress elected under the new Constitution assembles.)

The Isle of Man is brought under British control, the Isle of Man Purchase Act (coming into force 10 May) confirming HM Treasury's purchase of the feudal rights of the Dukes of Atholl as Lord of Mann over the island and revesting them into the British Crown..

The English-language "Quebec Gazette" is established in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. As of 2008, it is the oldest surviving newspaper in North America.

In Britain the Theatrical Licensing Act requires plays to be submitted to the Lord Chamberlain for censorship.

In Montreal, New France, a black slave known by the French name of Marie-Joseph Angélique is tortured then hanged by the French authorities for allegedly setting a fire that destroyed part of the city.

Thirty Years\\' War: Twenty-seven Czech lords are executed on the Old Town Square in Prague as a consequence of the Battle of White Mountain.

Thirty Years' War: Twenty-seven Czech lords are executed on the Old Town Square in Prague as a consequence of the Battle of White Mountain.

The Incident at Honnō-ji occurs in Kyoto, Japan.

War of the League of Cognac: Battle of Landriano: French forces in northern Italy are decisively defeated by Spain.

The papal bull "Aeterni regis" grants all land south of the Canary Islands to Portugal.

Battle of Chioggia: the Venetian fleet defeats Genoeses.

Upon the death of Erik Magnusson, his claims to the Swedish throne die with him and power is restored undivided to his father, king Magnus.

Philip of Swabia, King of Germany and rival to Holy Roman EmperorOtto IV, is assassinated in Bamberg by German Count Otto of Wittelsbach, because Philip had refused to give him his daughter in marriage.

With the help of the newly converted local tribes of Livs and Letts, the Crusaders initiate raids into part of what is present-day Estonia the resulting ancient fight for independence lasts until 1227.

Robert of Courçon writes his "Suma".

September ndash Belisarius arrives at Sicily, which he uses as a staging area, with the permission of the Ostrogoth queen Amalasuntha, daughter of Theodoric the Great and regent of Italy. The Ostrogoths help him with supplies and the fleet is prepared for the final attack.

A Byzantine expeditionary fleet under Belisarius sails in 500 transports escorted by 92 war vessels (dromons) manned by 20,000 seamen from Constantinople to attack the Vandals in Africa, via Greece and Sicily. The fleet carries 10,000 infantry, about half Byzantine and half "foederati", and 5,000 cavalry, consisting of 3,000 Byzantine horseman, 1,000 foreign allies (Huns and Heruli) and 1,500 of Belisarius' retainers ("bucellarii").Procopius, "BV", Vol. I, XI. 7–16 On the flagship Belisarius is accompanied by his military secretary Procopius and his wife Antonina.