In History, Today on September 29

The US Senate confirmed Christine Wormuth as the first female Secretary of the Army.

A mass protest in Hong Kong saw tens of thousands of demonstrators defy a police ban, continuing months of pro-democracy protests.

A 7.5-magnitude earthquake strikes the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, triggering a tsunami and resulting in a significant loss of life and widespread damage.

The first commercial flight from the United States to Cuba in over 50 years lands in Havana, marking a significant step in the thawing of U.S.-Cuba relations.

NASA announced the discovery of liquid water on Mars, a breakthrough in the search for extraterrestrial life and understanding of the planet's geology.

A series of earthquakes struck Pakistan, with the most significant being a 6.8 magnitude quake in Balochistan, causing significant damage and loss of life.

The United States Space Shuttle program sees its final aircraft, Shuttle Endeavour, delivered to the California Science Center for museum display.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 777.68 points, the largest single-day point drop at the time, following the rejection of the bank bailout bill by the U.S. House of Representatives.

NASA launched the Dawn spacecraft, beginning a mission to the asteroid belt to study the protoplanet Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres.

Gol Transportes Aéreos Flight 1907 collides with an Embraer Legacy 600 business jet and crashes in the Amazon rainforest, killing all 154 people on board.

John G. Roberts Jr. was sworn in as Chief Justice of the United States, becoming the 17th person to hold the position.

The asteroid 4179 Toutatis passed within four lunar distances of Earth, providing a significant opportunity for scientific observation.

The YF-22, which would later become the F-22 Raptor, made its first flight. This advanced tactical fighter aircraft was developed by Lockheed Martin and became a key component of the United States Air Force.

NASA launched the Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-26, marking the return to flight after the Challenger disaster in 1986.

Pope John Paul II became the first pope to visit Ireland, addressing a crowd of over a million people in Phoenix Park, Dublin.

WGPR in Detroit, Michigan, becomes the world's first black-owned-and-operated television station.

The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) was established, becoming one of the world's largest and most respected centers for scientific research.

The Babi Yar massacre began near Kiev, where Nazi SS troops executed approximately 33,771 Jewish people as part of the Holocaust.

The Munich Agreement was signed by Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy, allowing Nazi Germany's annexation of the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia.

The cornerstone of the Statue of Liberty's pedestal was laid on Bedloe's Island in New York Harbor.

Switzerland adopts its first federal constitution, formally becoming a federal republic.

The Metropolitan Police of London, the first modern police force, began operations under the leadership of Sir Robert Peel.

The U.S. Department of War was established, later becoming the Department of Defense, marking a significant step in organizing the United States' military forces.

During the Seven Years' War, the Battle of Biesingen took place, resulting in a Prussian victory over the French forces, enhancing the strategic power of Frederick the Great.

The British and Dutch forces, led by the Duke of Marlborough, successfully captured the city of Lille after a prolonged siege during the War of the Spanish Succession.

The Duke of Alba, Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, established the Council of Troubles in the Netherlands, which became known as the 'Council of Blood' due to its harsh repression of Protestant dissenters.

Vasco Núñez de Balboa reaches and discovers the eastern shore of the Pacific Ocean, becoming the first European to see the Pacific from its eastern side after crossing the Isthmus of Panama.

England's King Richard II surrenders to Henry Bolingbroke, later Henry IV, at Flint Castle. This surrender marks the eventual deposition of Richard II and the rise of the House of Lancaster to the English throne.

The Battle of Auray took place during the Breton War of Succession, resulting in a decisive victory for John de Montfort, who secured the Duchy of Brittany.

Duke William of Normandy's fleet lands at Pevensey, England, marking the beginning of the Norman Conquest. This expedition was part of William's claim to the English throne, challenging Harold II, the Anglo-Saxon king.

King Athelstan of England dies, leading to the succession of his half-brother Edmund I. Athelstan's reign is noted for consolidating the kingdom of England and his influence over other British kingdoms.

The death of Lothair I, Holy Roman Emperor, leads to the Treaty of Prüm, dividing his kingdom among his three sons, which contributes to the fragmentation of the Carolingian Empire.

The Battle of Salamis took place, where the Greek fleet, under the command of Themistocles, defeated the Persian navy led by Xerxes I. This naval battle was a turning point in the Greco-Persian Wars, significantly weakening Persian naval power and contributing to the eventual Greek victory.