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 1620, English crown bans tobacco growing in England, giving the Virginia Company a monopoly in exchange for tax of one shilling per pound. In 1861, William James Mayo, American physician and surgeon, co-founded the Mayo Clinic (died 1939) was born. 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 1893, Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, Indian economist and statistician (died 1972) was born. In 1956, Nick Fry, English economist and businessman was born. In 1995, The Sampoong Department Store collapses in the Seocho District of Seoul, South Korea, killing 502 and injuring 937. In 1995, Space Shuttle program: STS-71 Mission (Atlantis) docks with the Russian space station Mir for the first time. In 2012, A derecho sweeps across the eastern United States, leaving at least 22 people dead and millions without power. In 2012, Yong Nyuk Lin, Singaporean politician, Singaporean Minister of Health (born 1918) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.