Latest news with #WorldWarI
UPI
38 minutes ago
- General
- UPI
On This Day, June 28: Biscayne National Park established in Florida
On this date in history: In 1778, the Continental Army under command of Gen. George Washington defeated the British at Monmouth, N.J. A pair of saddle pistols used by the Marquis de Lafayette during the battle fetched nearly $2 million at a 2002 auction. In 1838, Victoria was crowned queen of England. She would rule for 63 years, 7 months. In 1914, Archduke Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia, an act considered to have ignited World War I. In 1919, World War I officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI In 1969, the clientele of a New York City gay bar, the Stonewall Inn, rioted after it was raided by police. The event is considered the start of the gay liberation movement. In 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the use of public funds for parochial schools was unconstitutional. In 1972, President Richard Nixon announced that no more draftees would be sent to Vietnam unless they volunteered for service in the Asian nation. In 1980, Biscayne National Park, previously a national monument, was established by an act of Congress. The park preserves Biscayne Bay and offshore barrier reefs in South Florida. In 1997, Mike Tyson bit off a piece of one of heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield's ears during a title fight in Las Vegas. In 2007, the American bald eagle was removed from the endangered species list. Officials of the Interior Department said the eagle, which had been declared endangered in 1967, was flourishing and no longer imperiled. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI In 2009, Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, rousted out of bed in the middle of the night by soldiers, was forced from office and into exile in Costa Rica in the culmination of a bitter power struggle over proposed constitutional changes. He was in exile for more than a year. In 2011, the International Monetary Fund's executive board named Christine Lagarde chairwoman, the first woman to lead the organization. In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the new healthcare law known as the Affordable Care Act. In 2016, militants opened fire and set off explosions at Turkey's Ataturk Airport, killing 45 people and leaving more than 230 injured. Turkish officials blamed the Islamic State. In 2018, five people -- four journalists and a sales assistant -- died after a gunman opened fire at the Annapolis, Md., office of the Capital Gazette newspaper. In 2022, Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking scheme. In 2023, South Korea scrapped its traditional age-counting system, instantly reducing the age of citizens by one or two years in a move to align with international standards and reduce clerical headaches. In 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that enforcement of camping regulation laws against homeless people does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment banned by the Eighth Amendment.
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First Post
3 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
History Today: How the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo sparked World War I
On June 28, 1914, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo triggered a chain reaction that lead to World War I. This pivotal moment shattered European stability and ushered in a global conflict that reshaped the 20th Century read more The first page of the edition of the Domenica del Corriere, an Italian paper, with a drawing by Achille Beltrame depicting Gavrilo Princip killing Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo. As part of Firstpost's History Today series, June 28 stands out as a day that dramatically shaped global history across centuries. On this date in 1914, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo ignited a chain of events that led to World War I. Five years later, on June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed, formally ending the conflict. Decades later, the day also saw the eruption of the Stonewall Riots in 1969 — catalysing the modern LGBTQ rights movement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD And in 1997, the infamous moment when Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield's ear during a boxing match. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand On June 28, 1914, a seemingly small, yet pivotal act of violence in Sarajevo sparked a chain reaction across Europe, ultimately igniting the conflagration known as World War I. Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, were assassinated in an event that has since been studied as the flashpoint of modern history. Archduke Franz Ferdinand, born in 1863, served as Inspector General of the Austro-Hungarian armed forces. While conservative and militaristic by temperament, he was an advocate for systemic reforms aimed at modernising the empire and granting greater autonomy to Slavic minorities. He and Sophie's marriage had endured the scrutiny of imperial aristocracy. Sophie, not from a reigning noble family, was often marginalised at court despite the couple's devotion . The date chosen for their visit — June 28, 1914, coinciding with St Vitus's Day (Vidovdan) — was loaded with symbolism. It commemorated the 1389 Serbian defeat in Kosovo, connecting present-day Serb nationalist sentiment with historical grievance. The visit was intended to bolster imperial authority in Bosnia, formally annexed in 1908, on the anniversary of Bosnia's 1878 occupation — another symbolic affront to Serbian nationalists. At the time, Sarajevo was simmering with discontent. Bosnian Serbs and Yugoslav nationalists sought liberation from Austro-Hungarian rule and unification with Serbia. Influential nationalist and paramilitary groups like the Black Hand (Ujedinjenje ili Smrt) fostered militant sentiment and trained operatives for political violence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Gavrilo Princip, a 19-year-old Bosnian Serb, joined Young Bosnia, a youth movement advocating Slavic unity. Princip and his five co-conspirators, equipped with bombs and pistols, trained and prepared for the assassination in discrete training camps, some allegedly sponsored by Serbian military factions. The royal procession began with high optimism. At approximately 10:15 am, Nedeljko Čabrinović seized the first opportunity, hurling a grenade at the Archduke's vehicle. Misjudging the motorcade's speed and configuration, the grenade bounced off the fold-down hood, exploding under the next car — injuring bystanders and driver but missing Franz Ferdinand. Despite the attack, Franz Ferdinand continued to the Town Hall for an impromptu reception, demonstrating both his bravery and obliviousness to the day's threats. Afterward, a fatal navigation error — possibly due to miscommunication in translation — led the motorcade to make a sudden right turn, pausing directly in front of Gavrilo Princip. Seizing the moment, Princip fired two shots at point-blank range: one fatally striking Franz Ferdinand in the jugular, the other hitting Sophie in the abdomen. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The couple collapsed instantly. The world had changed irreversibly. Princip was detained immediately, still near the scene. He later confessed freely at his trial, citing patriotism and intention to liberate South Slavs from oppression. Younger than 20, he avoided the death penalty and received 20 years — ultimately dying of tuberculosis in prison in 1918. The Austro-Hungarian response was swift and severe. General Oskar Potiorek, local governor, authorised anti-Serb pogroms in Sarajevo, resulting in widespread destruction of property, detentions and fatalities. Austria-Hungary, backed by Germany, issued a rigid ultimatum to Serbia on July 23, 1914, loaded with demands designed to be impossible to fulfill . Although Serbia conceded on most points, it refused to accept all terms — especially foreign judicial oversight — and Russia began partial mobilisation to protect its Slavic ally. Germany, interpreting this as hostility toward Austria-Hungary, declared war on Russia on August 1, 1914. France and Britain, bound by alliances and strategic considerations, followed suit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD By August 4, Europe was at war — not over Sarajevo but over a tangled web of alliances, militarism, imperial ambition and nationalism. World War I became the first truly industrialised global war. It introduced trench warfare, machine guns, chemical agents, tanks, naval blockades, aerial combat and battlefield medicine — all emerging during the war. Over 16 million perished — nearly 10 million military and close to 7 million civilians — along with the downfall of empires: Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, Russian and German . Culturally, the war produced a devastating rupture — seen in literature and art such as All Quiet on the Western Front and Dadaist movements. It fuelled revolutions, including in Russia, and laid ideological groundwork for fascism, communism and Nazism. Historiography continues to debate Princip's legacy. In Serbia, he is often hailed as a hero of national liberation; in Bosnia and Croatia, views remain critical, seeing him as extremist. A 2015 monument in Belgrade sparked controversy, highlighting divergent regional narratives. Historians also question fatal flaws in Austria-Hungary's diplomacy and the rigidity of alliances — like clockwork mobilisations turning minor crises into world war . STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Today, Sarajevo memorialises the assassination site with plaques and museums. A Sarajevo museum stands in the building where Franz Ferdinand was mortally wounded, and a statue of Princip in Istočno Sarajevo incites contested memory. Mike Tyson bites off part of Evander Holyfield's ear On June 28, 1997, aka The Bite Fight, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield squared off in Las Vegas during their WBA Heavyweight rematch. In the third round, a frustrated Tyson sank his teeth into Holyfield's right ear, tearing off a piece before biting again. Referee Mills Lane halted the match, disqualifying Tyson. The incident was a career-defining scandal — Tyson had his license revoked and paid a $3 million fine. Holyfield's ear was surgically reattached. Tyson later justified his actions, claiming frustration over Holyfield's alleged headbutts. The bizarre moment remains one of boxing's most infamous highlights. Stonewall Riots begin In the early hours of June 28, 1969, NYPD raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village, New York. Patrons — tired of continual harassment — fought back, triggering violent clashes that lasted nearly a week. Though not the first LGBTQ protest, Stonewall is heralded as the flashpoint for the modern gay rights movement. The spontaneous resistance inspired pride marches, advocacy groups and landmark legal battles. Its legacy endures: June is recognised as Pride Month, and the event is commemorated through global rallies and educational efforts . STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Treaty of Versailles signed On June 28, 1919, exactly five years after Franz Ferdinand's assassination, Allied and Associated powers signed the Treaty of Versailles in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles. The treaty imposed several punitive measures on Germany: the notorious War Guilt Clause (Article 231), substantial reparations, restrictions on military capabilities and loss of territory and overseas colonies Though hailed by Allied leaders as necessary to secure peace, it sowed deep resentment in Germany and contributed to the rise of Adolf Hitler and WWII. Despite its intentions to prevent future wars, the treaty is widely regarded as overly punitive. While the US Senate declined to ratify it, others adhered. The treaty took effect on January 10, 1920, shaping the interwar world. With inputs from agencies
Time of India
17 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
He paved way for Bengaluru's first engineering college, built warplanes, and dreamt of an Indian aircraft in 1913: The lost legacy of S.V. Setty
In the early 20th century, when aviation was still in its fragile infancy, a man from Mysore quietly made history in the skies above England. Sriram Venkatasubba Setty—known more simply as S.V. Setty—was not just the first Indian aviator , but also the designer behind one of the most iconic aircrafts of World War I: the Avro 504 . Yet, in a twist steeped in irony and loss, the man who helped Britain fly into the future was never allowed to build a plane in his own homeland. From Mysore to the Skies of England Born on December 28, 1879, in a modest household in Mysore, Setty's early life bore few signs of the aviation pioneer he would become. He pursued a Bachelor of Arts at Maharaja's College and later enrolled in the engineering college at Guindy. His journey took him through Thomason College and finally to Roorkee, where he completed his engineering degree. Initially serving as an Assistant Engineer in the Mysore Public Works Department, Setty's life took a dramatic turn when he earned a scholarship to Faraday House in London for a diploma in electrical engineering. But he had other dreams too—dreams of flying. Defying family opposition and without the support of the Mysore state for his growing interest in aeronautics, Setty chose to remain in England. In May 1911, he joined A.V. Roe and Company (Avro), then the only British firm dedicated to building aircraft. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bank Owned Properties For Sale In Long Hung (Prices May Surprise You) Foreclosed Homes | Search ads Search Now A Designer, A Pilot, A Pioneer Setty did not enter Avro as a passive learner. He flew, he tested, and above all, he designed. His test flights in early prototypes, including the Avro D, were often risky—once even resulting in a crash from which he miraculously walked away unscathed. Rather than retreat, he improved the design. In March 1912, he successfully flew his new aircraft. The event was witnessed by the famed Australian aviator John Duigan, who was so impressed that he purchased the plane on the spot. This aircraft would go on to inspire the Avro E, which in turn laid the foundation for the Avro 500. The Avro 500 ultimately led to the Avro 504, a plane that would redefine aviation. It became the world's first trainer aircraft and the first to bomb Germany in World War I. Over 10,000 units were produced between 1913 and 1932, making it one of the most widely used aircraft of its time. You Might Also Like: Bengaluru or Hyderabad, which is better for job search for mid-level techies? Internet explodes with rants on pay caps and work woes after Redditor's post Setty's contribution was formally acknowledged by Avro. In a certificate dated March 12, 1912, the company wrote that Setty 'has become very efficient in the tuning up of aeroplanes and engines... we now consider him to have had sufficient experience to be left in entire charge of the erection of a machine of any type.' He was awarded a gold medal for General Proficiency in Aeronautics, inscribed with the image of an Avro E. Shortly after, he returned to India in June 1912. Building Engineers, But Not Aircraft Back in Bangalore, Setty continued to break ground—this time in education. In 1913, he was appointed the superintendent of a new technical school in the city, which later evolved into the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE), Karnataka's first engineering college. As its founder professor, he trained a new generation of Indian engineers. But Setty still dreamed of building an Indian aircraft. Despite his credentials and vision, permission was denied. The reasons were never made public, but they reflected a broader indifference toward indigenous technological ambition under colonial rule. A Life and Legacy Lost Too Soon Tragically, Setty's brilliant life was cut short. In 1918, an influenza epidemic swept through Bangalore, killing nearly a fifth of its residents. Among the dead were Setty, his wife, and one of their four daughters. He was just 38 years old. You Might Also Like: Ahmedabad plane crash: How aviation accident mysteries are solved? Adding to the loss, in 1959, a fire at Avro's Chadderton plant destroyed much of the company's early documentation—including records of Setty's pioneering contributions. Today, only scattered references in aviation journals like Flight , the official organ of the Aero Club of the UK, bear witness to his flights and designs. S.V. Setty 's story is one of soaring ambition and grounded frustration. He helped Britain conquer the skies in wartime, yet his dream to see India build and fly its own aircraft remained unfulfilled. His tale, resurrected through sparse archives and aviation enthusiasts, stands as a reminder of India's forgotten pioneers—those who dreamed big when the sky wasn't even considered the limit.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Pure Shamelessness': Critics Rip Karoline Leavitt's 'Dangerous' New Lie For Trump
Critics are urging White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt to brush up on history after she went a little too far with her over-the-top praise of President Donald Trump's bombing campaign in Iran. 'No other president in history could have ever dreamed of such a success,' she said of the operation during a Fox News interview. Her critics on social media noted that U.S. presidents have seen success in the Civil War, World War I and World War II, to name a few. Trump has claimed that Iran's nuclear capabilities were 'completely and totally obliterated' in the weekend attack carried out by U.S. B-2 bombers. However, a U.S. intelligence assessment leaked to several media outlets reportedly takes a more measured tone, saying the attack may have only set Iran's nuclear program back by as little as a few months. Trump on Wednesday called the media outlets that reported the story 'scum.' Leavitt took a similar approach, calling the media 'fake news' and accusing the press of 'trying to demean and undermine the president.' Leavitt blamed 'hostile actors within the intelligence community' for leaking 'bits and pieces' of a report to 'push a fake news narrative' to make Trump look bad. 'President Trump completely and totally obliterated the capability of Iran to produce a nuclear weapon, and the world is safer today because of his historic efforts,' she insisted. But it's her claim that 'no other president in history could have ever dreamed of such a success' that got her critics fired up. Some offered reminders of just what that history has included, while others compared Leavitt to North Korea's state-run media. They wrote on X:
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
This Date in Baseball - Ryan Howard is the fastest player to hit 100 HRs, doing so in his 325th game
June 27 1917 — Catcher Hank Gowdy of the Braves became the first major league player to enter military service in World War I. 1939 — The Brooklyn Dodgers and the Boston Braves played a 23-inning, 2-2 tie. Whit Wyatt pitched the first 16 innings for the Dodgers. Both clubs played a 26-inning tie in 1920 at the same Braves Field. 1958 — Billy Pierce of the Chicago White Sox retired 26 straight Washington batters before pinch-hitter Ed Fitzgerald hit a double just inside the right-field line for the only hit. Pierce then struck out Albie Pearson on three pitches and beat the Senators 3-0. 1973 — David Clyde, a $125,000, 18-year-old bonus baby with the Rangers, pitched five innings, struck out eight and allowed one hit in his first major league start. Texas beat the Minnesota Twins 4-3 before 35,698 fans — the Rangers' first home sellout at Arlington Stadium. 1980 — The Los Angeles Dodgers' Jerry Reuss pitched a no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants in an 8-0 victory at Candlestick Park. The only player to reach base was Jack Clark in the first inning on a throwing error by shortstop Bill Russell. 1986 — San Francisco rookie Robby Thompson set a major league record when he was caught stealing four times in the Giants' 7-6, 12-inning victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Catcher Bo Diaz threw out Thompson in the fourth, sixth, ninth and 11th innings. 1993 — Anthony Young of the New York Mets set a major league record by losing his 24th straight decision, 5-3 to the St. Louis Cardinals. 1999 — Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 27th homer and robbed Juan Gonzalez of a three-run shot with a spectacular over-the-fence catch as the Seattle Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 5-2 in the final game at the Kingdome. 2003 — Boston set a major league record by scoring 10 runs before the first out. The 50-minute, 91-pitch first inning came during a 25-8 victory over Florida. The Red Sox also tied an AL record with 14 runs in the first inning. Johnny Damon matched a major league mark with three hits in an inning. 2007 — Ryan Howard hits his 100th career home run in a 9 - 6 loss to the Reds. The shot against Aaron Harang makes him the fastest player in major league history to hit 100 homers, doing so in his 325th game. 2008 — Carlos Delgado of the New York Mets homered twice, including a grand slam, and set a franchise record with nine RBIs in a 15-6 rout of the Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the opener of the teams' two-ballpark doubleheader. The Yankees beat the Mets 9-0 at Shea Stadium in the night game. 2009 — Tim Wakefield makes his 382nd start for the Boston Red Sox, tying Roger Clemens for most in franchise history. The 42-year-old knuckleballer earns his tenth win of the year with six scoreless innings against the Atlanta Braves. Boston prevails, 1 - 0, with Mark Kotsay driving in the game's only run. 2010 — Jamie Moyer surrendered his record-breaking 506th home run but was sharp otherwise, and the Philadelphia Phillies took advantage of Toronto's troubles to beat the Blue Jays 11-2. Moyer only mistake was a two-run homer by Vernon Wells in the third inning. Moyer passed former Phillies Hall of Famer Robin Roberts for the most homers allowed in a career. 2016 — Kris Bryant became the first major leaguer to hit three homers and two doubles in a game, and Jake Arrieta added a solo shot, leading the Chicago Cubs to an 11-8 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. 2016 — The Texas Rangers wrapped up a weird win at 2:44 a.m., rallying after a rain delay of more than 3 1/2 hours in the ninth inning to beat the New York Yankees 9-6 with maybe 100 fans left in the stands. Umpire crew chief Paul Nauert signaled for the tarp at 10:40 p.m. The game resumed at 2:15 a.m. Texas trailed 6-5 when Kirby Yates replaced closer Aroldis Chapman after the delay with a runner on first and no outs. Yates (2-1) hit three batters, and Beltre and Elvis Andrus each hit a two-run singles. 2017 — The University of Florida wins the first College World Series Title in school history bt defeating Louisiana State University 6-1. 2019 — The starters for the 2019 All-Star Game are named, at the conclusion of the fans' vote. For the first time, this voting is two-tiered, with today's winners the victors of a second round of strictly on-line voting among the three top finishers at each position, after the more traditional ballots have been counted. The results are well-balanced, with only one team managing as many as three players elected - the Astros with 3B Alex Bregman and OFs George Springer and Michael Brantley - and are generally representative of who have been the best players so far this year. 2021 — A little over a week after MLB has begun to systematically examine pitchers for foreign substances to improve grip, a first victim is caught: Hector Santiago of the Mariners is ejected after umpires discover an unknown sticky substances on his glove. The glove is impounded and sent for further analysis, while Santiago protests his innocence, claiming that he was only using rosin to prevent perspiration from dripping unto his hands. He will be issued a ten-game suspension.
