OTD:

In 1396, the Ottoman Empire decisively defeated a coalition of Christian forces at the Battle of Nicopolis, solidifying Ottoman control in the Balkans.

In 1513, Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean from the Americas, opening new routes for Spanish exploration.

In 1890, Sequoia National Park was established in California, preserving its famous giant sequoia trees and advancing the American conservation movement.

In 1926, golfer Bobby Jones won his second U.S. Open title, solidifying his status as one of the greatest golfers and paving the way for his 1930 Grand Slam.

In 1957, the Little Rock Nine entered Central High School under federal troop protection, a landmark event in the fight for desegregation during the Civil Rights Movement.

In 1972, Norway voted against joining the European Economic Community, reflecting concerns over sovereignty and economic independence, particularly in rural areas.

In 1977, The Love Boat premiered on ABC, becoming a hit television series that popularized cruise vacations and ran for nine seasons.

In 1981, France abolished the death penalty, making it the last Western European nation to do so, reflecting growing human rights activism.

In 2008, China's Shenzhou 7 spacecraft launched, marking the country's first spacewalk and demonstrating its advancing space exploration capabilities.

In 2015, a deadly stampede during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mina, Saudi Arabia, resulted in over 2,400 deaths, raising concerns about safety in large-scale gatherings.