Summary of the Day ✨ 29 July (29/07)
Violent incidents unfold globally as three children are murdered at an English dance studio sparking nationwide riots, while a prison riot in Brazil claims 62 lives and two trains collide in Switzerland injuring 25 passengers. Simultaneously, the International Space Station spins out of control following a Russian engine malfunction, and debris from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 is discovered on Réunion Island.
Historical Events 📜
- 2024: Three children are stabbed to death and 10 other people injured at a dance studio in Southport, England. This incident, coupled with widespread online misinformation, leads to various racially motivated riots across the UK.
- 2021: The International Space Station temporarily spins out of control, moving the ISS 45 degrees out of attitude, following an engine malfunction of Russian module Nauka.
- 2019: The 2019 Altamira prison riot between rival Brazilian drug gangs leaves 62 dead.
- 2015: The first piece of suspected debris from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 is discovered on Réunion Island.
- 2013: Two passenger trains collide in the Swiss municipality of Granges-près-Marnand near Lausanne injuring 25 people.
- 2010: An overloaded passenger ferry capsizes on the Kasai River in Bandundu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, resulting in at least 80 deaths.
- 2005: Astronomers announce their discovery of the dwarf planet Eris.
- 1996: The child protection portion of the Communications Decency Act is struck down by a U.S. federal court as too broad.
- 1993: The Supreme Court of Israel acquits alleged Nazi death camp guard John Demjanjuk of all charges and he is set free.
- 1987: British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and President of France François Mitterrand sign the agreement to build a tunnel under the English Channel (Channel Tunnel).
- 1987: Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi and President of Sri Lanka J. R. Jayewardene sign the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord on ethnic issues.
- 1985: Space Shuttle Challenger launches on STS-51-F. The shuttle ends up in a lower orbit than planned due to an engine failure during ascent.
- 1981: A worldwide television audience of around 750 million people watch the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul’s Cathedral in London.
- 1981: After impeachment on June 21, Abolhassan Banisadr flees with Massoud Rajavi to Paris, in an Iranian Air Force Boeing 707, piloted by Colonel Behzad Moezzi, to form the National Council of Resistance of Iran.
- 1980: Iran adopts a new “holy” flag after the Islamic Revolution.
Famous Births 👶
- 2003: Johnny Brackins, American long jumper and hurdler
- 1998: Mirjam Björklund, Swedish tennis player
- 1998: Clayton Keller, American ice hockey player
- 1994: Liam O’Brien, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1993: Nicole Melichar, American tennis player
- 1993: Dak Prescott, American football player
- 1992: Karen Torrez, Bolivian swimmer
- 1991: Dale Copley, Australian rugby league player
- 1991: Irakli Logua, Russian footballer
- 1990: Shin Se-kyung, South Korean actress, singer and model
- 1989: Grit Šadeiko, Estonian heptathlete
- 1988: Tarjei Bø, Norwegian biathlete
- 1985: Okinoumi Ayumi, Japanese sumo wrestler
- 1985: Besart Berisha, Albanian footballer
- 1985: Simon Santoso, Indonesian badminton player
Notable Deaths 🕊️
- 2025: Alon Abutbul, Israeli film, television and theater actor (born 1965)
- 2018: Oliver Dragojević, Croatian recording artist (born 1947)
- 2018: Nikolai Volkoff, Yugoslav-born American professional wrestler (born 1947)
- 2015: Antony Holland, English-Canadian actor, director, and playwright (born 1920)
- 2015: Peter O’Sullevan, Anglo-Irish sportscaster (born 1918)
- 2015: Mike Pyle, American football player and sportscaster (born 1939)
- 2015: Franklin H. Westervelt, American computer scientist, engineer, and academic (born 1930)
- 2014: M. Caldwell Butler, American soldier, lawyer, and politician (born 1925)
- 2014: Jon R. Cavaiani, English-American sergeant, Medal of Honor recipient (born 1943)
- 2014: Giorgio Gaslini, Italian pianist and composer (born 1929)
- 2014: María Antonia Iglesias, Spanish journalist and author (born 1945)
- 2014: Péter Kiss, Hungarian engineer and politician (born 1959)
- 2014: Idris Muhammad, American drummer and composer (born 1939)
- 2014: Thomas R. St. George, American soldier and author (born 1919)
- 2013: Christian Benítez, Ecuadorian footballer (born 1986)
Holidays & Observances 🎉
- Christian feast day:
Lazarus of Bethany - Christian feast day:
Lupus of Troyes - Christian feast day:
Martha of Bethany (Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran Church) - Christian feast day:
Mary of Bethany - Christian feast day:
Olaf II of Norway - Christian feast day:
Simplicius, Faustinus and Beatrix - Christian feast day:
July 29 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) - Earliest day on which Somer’s Day can fall, while August 4 is the latest; celebrated on Friday before the first Monday in August. (Bermuda)
- International Tiger Day
- Mohun Bagan Day (India)
- National Anthem Day (Romania)
- National Thai Language Day (Thailand)
- Ólavsøka or Olsok, opening of the Løgting session. (Faroe Islands and the Nordic countries)