Today in News History

On July 2, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1853, The Russian Army crosses the Prut river into the Danubian Principalities (Moldavia and Wallachia), providing the spark that will set off the Crimean War. In 1931, Mohammad Yazdi, Iranian cleric (died 2020) was born. In 1940, World War II: The SS Arandora Star is sunk by U-47 in the North Atlantic with the loss of over 800 lives, mostly civilians. In 1947, Ann Taylor, Baroness Taylor of Bolton, English politician, Minister for International Security Strategy was born. In 1966, France conducts its first nuclear weapon test in the Pacific, on Moruroa Atoll. In 1979, Ahmed al-Ghamdi, Saudi Arabian terrorist, hijacker of United Airlines Flight 175 (died 2001) was born. In 1986, Rodrigo Rojas and Carmen Gloria Quintana are burnt alive during a street demonstration against the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet in Chile. In 1990, In the 1990 Mecca tunnel tragedy, 1,400 Muslim pilgrims are suffocated to death and trampled upon in a pedestrian tunnel leading to the holy city of Mecca. In 1997, The Bank of Thailand floats the baht, triggering the Asian financial crisis. In 2015, Jacobo Zabludovsky, Mexican journalist (born 1928) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.