Today in News History

On June 29, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1170, A major earthquake hits Syria, badly damaging towns such as Hama and Shaizar and structures such as the Krak des Chevaliers and the cathedral of St. Peter in Antioch. In 1874, Greek politician Charilaos Trikoupis publishes a manifesto in the Athens daily Kairoi entitled "Who's to Blame?" leveling complaints against King George. Trikoupis is elected Prime Minister of Greece the next year. In 1924, Philip H. Hoff, American politician (died 2018) was born. In 1948, Usha Prashar, Baroness Prashar, Kenyan-English politician was born. In 1957, Michael Nutter, American politician, 98th Mayor of Philadelphia was born. In 1972, The United States Supreme Court rules in the case Furman v. Georgia that arbitrary and inconsistent imposition of the death penalty violates the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments and constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. In 1995, The Sampoong Department Store collapses in the Seocho District of Seoul, South Korea, killing 502 and injuring 937. In 2006, Hamdan v. Rumsfeld: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that President George W. Bush's plan to try Guantanamo Bay detainees in military tribunals violates U.S. and international law. In 2012, A derecho sweeps across the eastern United States, leaving at least 22 people dead and millions without power. In 2013, Gilma Jiménez, Colombian politician (born 1956) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.