Today in News History

On June 29, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1641, Marie Casimire Louise de La Grange d'Arquien, consort to King John III Sobieski (died 1716) was born. In 1889, Maria Mitchell, American astronomer and academic (born 1818) passed away. In 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie are assassinated in Sarajevo; this is the casus belli of World War I. In 1931, Junior Johnson, American race car driver (died 2019) was born. In 1938, S. Sivamaharajah, Sri Lankan Tamil newspaper publisher and politician (died 2006) was born. In 1950, Korean War: The Korean People's Army kills almost a thousand doctors, nurses, inpatient civilians and wounded soldiers in the Seoul National University Hospital massacre. In 1950, Korean War: Suspected communist sympathizers (between 60,000 and 200,000) are executed in the Bodo League massacre. In 1950, Korean War: Packed with its own refugees fleeing Seoul and leaving their 5th Division stranded, South Korean forces blow up the Hangang Bridge in an attempt to slow North Korea's offensive. The city falls later that day. In 2012, Doris Sams, American baseball player (born 1927) passed away. In 2016, A terrorist attack in Turkey's Istanbul Atatürk Airport kills 42 people and injures more than 230 others. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.