Today in News History

On June 17, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 811, Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, Japanese shōgun (born 758) passed away. In 1631, Mumtaz Mahal dies during childbirth. Her husband, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan I, will spend the next 17 years building her mausoleum, the Taj Mahal. In 1631, Mumtaz Mahal, Mughal princess (born 1593) passed away. In 1631, Gauharara Begum, Mughal princess (died 1706) was born. In 1797, Mohammad Khan Qajar, Persian tribal chief (born 1742) passed away. In 1839, Lord William Bentinck, English general and politician, 14th Governor-General of India (born 1774) passed away. In 1963, The United States Supreme Court rules 8-1 in Abington School District v. Schempp against requiring the reciting of Bible verses and the Lord's Prayer in public schools. In 1967, Nuclear weapons testing: China announces a successful test of its first thermonuclear weapon. In 1991, Apartheid: The South African Parliament repeals the Population Registration Act which required racial classification of all South Africans at birth. In 2015, Nine people are killed in a mass shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.